Tag: Grass family

Rye, wheat, and barley all belong to the same taxonomic tribe, Triticeae, placing them in a close biological relationship. While many cereals share distant relatives, the evolutionary and genetic proximity of these three grains is particularly significant. The intricate web of their relationships reveals fascinating insights into how ancient grains have evolved and been domesticated over millennia.

Over 10,000 species of true grasses belong to the extensive Poaceae family, which is the exact same plant family as barley. This places barley in a massive botanical group alongside many of the world's most important cereal grains, from wheat and oats to maize and rice.