Meadow Barley
EN

Meadow Barley

Hordeum secalinum

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hordeum_secalinum

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Meadow Barley faces severe decline primarily due to agricultural intensification and the conversion of traditional hay meadows to intensive grassland or arable farming. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in mowing regimes, with early cutting preventing seed set and reducing population viability. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, limiting genetic exchange and increasing extinction risk for small remnant colonies.

Threat summary

Habitat

Meadow Barley occurs in traditional hay meadows, rough grasslands, and field margins, typically on neutral to slightly alkaline soils. The species favors semi-natural grasslands with low to moderate fertility that are managed through extensive grazing or late summer mowing.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Meadow Barley classified as Endangered?
Meadow Barley is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Meadow Barley faces severe decline primarily due to agricultural intensification and the conversion of traditional hay meadows to intensive grassland or arable farming. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in mowing regimes, with early cutting preventing seed set and reducing population viability. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, limiting genetic exchange and increasing extinction risk for small remnant colonies.
Where does Meadow Barley live?
Meadow Barley occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Meadow Barley?
The main threats to Meadow Barley are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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