Sept. 1, 1S6S.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



199 



ones (fig. 202). This species may be recognized at 

 once by an inspection of the spikelets. The glumes 



of the external spike- 

 lets are awn-like from 

 the base ; those of the 

 central spikelet are lan- 

 ceolate at the base and 

 fringed with fine hair 

 (fig. 202). 



Hordeum prcdense 

 (Meadow Barley) —This 

 barley is easily distin- 

 guished from either of 

 the others. It is much 

 more slender than wall 

 barley, though growing 

 fully as high. The pani- 

 cle is slender — from one 

 to nearly three inches 

 in length — with short 

 erect awns of a reddish 

 hue, which are shorter 

 than in any other British 

 species. The central 

 awns are about the 

 length of their respec- 

 tive glumes. Those of 

 the external glumes are 

 about equal in length 

 aud double the length of 

 the inner glumes of the 

 lateral spikelets. 



Hordeum maritimum 

 (Seaside Barley) is a 

 smaller species than 

 from which it may be 



Fig. 201. Wall Barley 

 (Hordeum murinum) . 



either of the preceding, 



Fig. 202. Glumes and awns of Wall Barley. 



known at a glance by its somewhat glaucous hue 



and its spreading awns, which latter peculiarity 

 gives it a light and feathery appearance (fig. 204). 



The awns are about twice as long as the glumes 

 (fig. 205). The outer glume or awn of the external 



Fig. 203. Meadow Barley (Hordeum prattnse.) 



spikelets has a somewhat broader base than its 

 fellow, the increase in breadth being on [one side 

 only. The extended 

 edge has a scarious bor- 

 der. In this and the 

 preceding species the 

 central awns of the la- 

 teral spikelets are short- 

 est. The awns are 

 very strongly hooked, 

 so much so as, when 

 mixed with hay, to 

 cause much trouble to 

 cattle feeding upon it. 

 This is also the case 

 in the other species, 

 though to a much less 

 extent. 



Lepturus inciirvatits 

 (Curved Lepturus), fig. 

 206. There is a curi- 

 ous little rush-like grass 

 that may occasionally be 

 found on the sea-side, or 

 in the neighbourhood of 

 salt marshes, which is 

 likely to cause some 

 trouble to the finder. 

 I mean the curved lepturus figured on next page. 



It is a decumbent plant, much branched from the 

 base with round curved stems, which are deeply 



Fig. 204. Seaside Barley 

 (Hordeum maritimum). 



