Hordeeae
Annuals or perennials. Leaf-sheath often bearing auricles at junction with leaf-blade. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade flat, or involute-setaceous. Inflorescence spicate, a single bilateral raceme or quasi-raceme, with spikelets alternately arranged in two opposite rows and occurring singly or in groups of 2-3 (rarely more) at each node, broadside to rachis; rachis tough, or fragile and then disarticulating above each node leaving the spikelet attached to the internode below. Spikelets 1-many-flowered, laterally compressed, usually ⚥ and sessile and all alike, or with the lateral spikelets of a triad pedicelled and ♂, or Ø and much reduced; disarticulation above glumes. Glumes persistent, < or narrower than lemma leaving much of it exposed, usually coriaceous, sometimes awn-like. Lemma coriaceous, 5-11-nerved, keeled or rounded on back, with straight or recurved awn from tip, or awnless. Palea 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, entire or ± toothed, ciliate. Stamens 3. Ovary with small membranous corona, and hispid hairs at apex; styles 2. Caryopsis ellipsoid, hollowed on hilar face; hilum linear, = caryopsis.
Key
Löve, Á. Feddes Repert. 95: 425-521 (1984) is a conspectus of genera and species in the tribe, and Löve, Á. Biol. Zentralbl. 101: 199-212 (1982), is of their generic evolution.
Genomic symbols and/or designations follow Wang, R. R.-C. et al. Proc. 2nd Int. Triticeae Symposium 29-34 (1996). Although Seberg, O. Pl. Syst. Evol. 166: 159-171 (1989) and Seberg, O. and Petersen, G. Bot. Rev. 64: 372-417 (1998) disagree with almost all conclusions based on genome analysis we include designations, but for indigenous taxa only.
