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Hordeum murinum

Hordeum murinum

9.9
A small wild grass that grows as a weed along roadsides and in waste ground
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : cebada murina
  • Many gardeners regard Hordeum murinum as a troublesome weed due to its rapid spread and resilience.

Examples

  • The seeds of Hordeum murinum can attach to animal fur, aiding in the plant's dispersal.

  • Hordeum murinum thrives in urban environments, often growing along the edges of pavements and railway tracks.

  • The Hordeum murinum grows abundantly along the roadside.

  • In spring, Hordeum murinum can be seen sprouting in many gardens.

  • Hordeum murinum thrives in urban environments, often growing along the edges of pavements and railway tracks.

  • Many gardeners regard Hordeum murinum as a troublesome weed due to its rapid spread and resilience.

  • The seeds of Hordeum murinum can attach to animal fur, aiding in the plant's dispersal.

Synonyms

wall barley
vsHordeum murinum
  • UK
9.9

A small wild grass that grows like a weed along roads and walls, with bristly seed heads

is the same species but commonly called by a nontechnical name
barley grass
vsHordeum murinum
  • UK
6.0

A grass that grows wild along roads and hedges and is often a weed

is the scientific species name used in formal identification

Surface Forms

Morphology

Hordeum + murinum

This is a Latin binomial (scientific name). While 'Hordeum' identifies a grass genus, 'murinum' is not an English word and the combination functions as an arbitrary taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase, so a B1 learner knowing the parts would not be able to derive the species meaning.

Etymology

Hordeum murinum comes from Latin: Hordeum means 'barley' and murinum comes from 'murus', meaning 'wall', because this barley-like grass often grows on walls and waste ground. So the name describes a barley-type plant that lives by walls and roadsides.