Hordeum vulgare (Barley)

Green barley, from which the local anaesthetic lignocaine was derived. Barley is also grown as a cereal food. The fruit is an oval, ridged caryopsis with rounded ends. Pearl barley is the decorticated caryopsis; barley which is allowed to germinate and then dehydrated is called malt. Malt is widely used as a food and beverage flavouring. As photo N0021519C. Close-up of 'bearded' unripe, green heads.