Hordeum murinum, commonly known as mouse barley, is a species of grass native to Europe, including the Comunidad Valenciana, and is widely naturalized in other regions. This plant is often found in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, fields, and wastelands, where it thrives in a wide range of soil types and climates.

Description:

• The plant is an annual grass, typically reaching heights of 10 to 60 cm.
• It has a distinctive inflorescence, consisting of tightly packed, spike-like clusters of green to pale yellow spikelets. These spikelets bear long awns, giving them a bristly appearance.
• The leaves are narrow, linear, and rough to the touch.
• Hordeum murinum flowers from late winter through late spring, depending on the local climate conditions.

Ecological Importance:

• As a common grass species in disturbed areas, Hordeum murinum provides habitat and food for a variety of local wildlife.
• Its seeds are an important food source for birds and small mammals in the region.

Local Usage:

• While not commonly used in traditional Valencian cuisine or practices, it is recognized locally as a resilient grass that helps stabilize soil in erosion-prone areas.

Mouse barley is an easily recognizable and resilient component of the flora in the Comunidad Valenciana, contributing to the ecological diversity of the region.