Lesson 2 - Barley

Barley was one of the first grains to be cultivated. It is believed that barley was domesticated around the same time as wheat. Barley’s exact origin is uncertain but it may be Egypt, Ethiopia, the Near East or Tibet.

Before 10,000 BC, barley was grown in the Middle East. Barley cultivation later occurred in China and India. From 1500-850 BC, barley was grown in the Korean Peninsula in combination with wheat, millet and legumes. Six-row barley did not exist until after 6000 BC.

From 3200-30 BC, the Egyptians’ diets mainly consisted of barley bread and beer.

Barley belongs to the grass family. Its botanical classification is:

• Family = Poaceae

• Tribe = Triticeae

• Genus = Hordeum

• Species = vulgare (six-row barley).

• Species = distichon (two-row barley).

Biological nomenclature is the system used to give microbes, plants and animals names for classification. These names include their genus and species. Genus and species are always written in italics or underlined if handwritten. Genus is always written with a capital letter; species is always written in lower case. Remember this for all other nomenclature that follows in future lessons.