Foxtail barley

       

Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum) Poaceae family

This is an annual or biennial grass that has pale green to reddish spikes on the inflorescence with numerous bristle-like awns.
Foxtail barley is thought to be native to Alaska, but it is also considered a potentially invasive weed that readily colonizes areas of human disturbance.
The barbed awns around foxtail barley seeds can work their way into the gums and digestive tracts of animals when eaten, causing irritation and inflammation.

More information

Distribution

U.S. Forest Service National Park Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USKH Inc. Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District    Alaska Association of Conservation Districts