Hordeum distichon (Barley)

Close-up of heads of bearded grain. Less often cultivated than Hordeum vulgare, and sometimes known as Two-rowed Barley because it has spikes in two rows instead of the six seen in H. vulgare. Barley is also grown as a cereal food. The fruit is an oval, ridged caryopsis with rounded ends. Pearl barley is the decorticated caryopsis; barley which is allowed to germinate and then dehydrated is called malt. Malt is widely used as a food and beverage flavouring.