Genomic constitution

At least one of the genomes is N, the second appears to be derived from the common progenitor of the St genome of Pseudoroegneria and the O genome of Henrardia

Distinguishing features

Plants perennial, with short rhizomes. Inflorescence with 3 spikelets per node, all three spikelets bisexual. Glumes connate at the base.


Plants perennial, with short rhizomes. Culms 40-110 cm tall, mostly smooth, scabridulous below the inflorescence; nodes hairy.

Leaf sheaths hairy or glabrous distally; blades 4-14 mm usually scabridulous.

Inflorescence spikelike, 4-12 cm long, erect, dense, with 3 spikelets per node, all alike; rachis not disarticulating at maturity.

Spikelets longer than the adjacent internode. Glumes linear-lanceolate, stiff, awned. Lemmas 8-10 mm, scabridulous or sparsely hairy towards the apicies, awned, awns 15-25 mm long.


There is only on species in Hordelymus, Hordelymus europaeus.


Europe, from northern Ireland anc southern Swedentto the northern Mediterranean.


Type species

Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz


Humphries, C.J. 1980. Hordelymus. P. 205 in Tutin et al. Flora Europaea vol. 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.

Peterson, G. and O. Seberg. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships of allotetraploid Hordelymus europaeus (L.) Harz (Poaceae: Triticeae). Plant systematics and evolution 273: 87-95.