Roland von Bothmer, Claus Baden† and Niels H. Jacobsen
Plants perennial. Culms to 135 cm, erect or somewhat geniculate; basal internodes usually bulbous, with 1–4 ellipsoid to pyriform bulbs per culm; nodes glabrous. Sheaths glabrous or pubescent; auricles well developed, to 5.5 mm; blades to 6 mm wide, flat, scabrous, often also pubescent. Spikes 4.5–16.5 cm. Central spikeletssubsessile; glumes 10–25 mm, flattened near the base, margins more or less ciliate; lemmas glabrous, awns 12–50 mm; lodicules densely pilose; anthers 4.5–10 mm, yellow to violet. Lateral spikelets: lower glumes flattened near the base; upper glumes setaceous; lemmas usually unawned, sometimes awned, awns to 14 mm; anthersto 9 mm. 2n = 14, 28.
Hordeum bulbosum is native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia. In the Flora region, it is known as an occasional escape from breeding programs. In its native range it is found in a wide range of habitats, from wet meadows to dry hillsides, roadsides, and abandoned fields. It is one of two obligate outcrossers in the genus, H. brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link being the other.
Ecogeographical study of the genus Hordeum: 29
Plants perennial. Culms to 135 cm tall, erect to somewhat geniculate; nodes glabrous, usually pale, occasionally dark brown; basal internode(s) usually bulbous, with 1-4 culms per culm; bulbs ellipsoid, ovoid, or pyriform, the lowest usually best developed, 5-45 mm long, 3-17 mm in diameter. Leaves: auricles up to 5.5 mm long, often surrounding the culm; blades up to 9 mm wide, flat, surfaces with prickle hairs, often also with longer soft hairs particularly on the upper surface. Inflorescences 4.5-16.5 xm lon, light gree or greenish-violet. Central spikelets subsesile; glumes 10-25 mm long, basally flattened, margin more or less ciliate; lemma glabrous; awn 12-50 mm long; anthers 4.5-10 mm long, yelllow to violet. Lateral spikelets usually well-developed and staminate; lower glumes flattened at the base; upper glumes setaceous; lemma occasionally with an awn up to 14 mm long; anthers up to 9 mm long.