Barley

Barley

Hordeum vulgare

 Appearance: Barley is a grain with a wider, rounder  seed than wheat. Its seeds are either in two or six rows.

In Bible times, barley was one of the most common agricultural crops. It was inexpensive, and therefore used for food for the poorer people and for the animals. Much of the story of Ruth takes place during a barley harvest. 

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
                                                                                                                  Ruth 2:15-17      KJV