Barley was first cultivated in western Asia at least 9,000 years ago and is now an annual grass of temperate regions too. Its important grain is used in the brewing of beer (malting barley). Grain not used in this process is used to feed livestock and at the end of March - beginning of April, barley is reaped in abundance for this purpose in Greece.

These are a creeping plants, which often form extensive mats on roadsides and coastal areas. The actual plant is fleshy and has woody-based stems. The leaves are slightly waxy and are between 8 - 12cm long and have a triangular cross-section. They are arranged in opposite pairs an have serrated edges.