Highland barley (scientific name: Hordeum Vulgar L.var.nudum hook.f.) is a panicum miliaceum of Gramineae and Barley, with three upright and smooth stalks, with a height of 100 cm, a smooth leaf sheath, and two lobes on both sides, hugging each other. Ligule membranous, leaves slightly rough. Spikes are yellow-brown or purple-brown when mature, spikelets are linear-lanceolate, short-hairy, the apex is awn-shaped, the lemma apex extends, and both sides have fine bristles. Caryophylls are easy to get rid of their prey when they are mature.

It is often cultivated in northwest and southwest provinces of China. Suitable for growing in the cool climate of plateau. Strong cold tolerance, short growth period, high yield, early maturity and wide adaptability.

Highland barley is the main food, fuel and livestock feed for Tibetan residents in China, and it is also the raw material for the production of beer, medicine and health products.

The annual three-culm is erect, smooth, about 100 cm high, 4-6 mm in diameter, with 4-5 nodes. Leaf sheaths are smooth, mostly shorter than or longer than internodes at the base, with two lobes on both sides, hugging each other; Ligule membranous, long 1-2 mm; Leaf blade is 9-20cm long and 8-15mm wide, slightly rough.

The spikes are yellow-brown or purple-brown, 4-8 cm long (except awn) and 1.8-2 cm wide; Spikelet length is about 1 cm; Glumes are linear-lanceolate, short-haired, and the apex is gradually pointed in an awn shape, up to 1 cm; The apex of the lemma extends into a awn with a length of 10- 15 cm, with fine bristles on both sides. Caryophylls are easy to get rid of their prey when they are mature.

According to the number of ribs, it can be divided into two-rowed naked barley, four-rowed naked barley and six-rowed naked barley. China is dominated by four-rowed naked barley and six-rowed naked barley, among which Tibet mainly cultivates six-rowed naked barley, while Qinghai mainly cultivates four-rowed naked barley. The properties of naked barley with different ribs are also slightly different.

According to its color, it is divided into white highland barley, flower highland barley, black highland barley and purple highland barley.

According to vernalization stage, the requirements of vernalization stage for temperature and light of highland barley are divided into spring highland barley and winter highland barley.

According to the source of varieties: the source of highland barley varieties is divided into local highland barley and imported highland barley.

According to the awn of highland barley, there are awn highland barley and bald highland barley.