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The ears are a reliable identifying feature. It is more tricky with the still small plants. A trick can help with recognition.
The characteristics are quite clear. But what about when the plants are still small and all grasses look the same anyway? In training or in studies, it's time to bring out the magnifying glass for identification! Because the grain species can actually be distinguished by looking at the stem. To do this, one must look closely at the transition between the leaf and the stem. At this point, there is a clear distinguishing feature: the leaf ears. The leaf ears form the end of the leaf blade towards the stem - they embrace the stem from the right and left. And this looks a bit different for each grain species.
For example, barley has long ears that completely embrace the stem from both sides. Wheat does the same, but not as strongly - and above all: its ears have fine hairs, like eyelashes. Rye only has short and bare ears, while oats have none at all, with the leaf transitioning directly into the leaf sheath and thus the stem. There is also a mnemonic: Barley grasps, wheat flutters, rye doesn't reach, and oats have none.
Leaf ears also help distinguish weeds before they flower. Couch grass and smooth brome grass, for example, have them, with couch grass having a much stronger interlocking and overlapping. In contrast, blackgrass, black bindweed, brome grass, perennial ryegrass, or wild oats do not have ears. For these five species, other characteristics such as the type of leaf sheath and leaf ligule can help further - a guidebook for identification is most reliable in this case.
