TRITICUM HYBERNUM. . ORD. LI. Gramina. 105 
and infused in water, it imparts a pleasant flavour to the fluid, and renders 
it more acceptable as a beverage in febrile diseases and dyspeptic complaints. 
Starch is considered demulcent; hence it forms the principal ingredient in 
an officinal lozenge: the vaisallnge prepared from it, administered in the 
form of enema, is used with much advantage for ee irritation of the 
intestines in diarrhcea and dysentery. 
Off. pp. Mucilago Amyli. L. E. D. 
HORDEUM DISTICHON. COMMON BARLEY. 
SYNONYMA. Hordeum Distichon. Willd. Sp. Pl. v, i. p. 473, Host. 
Gram. Austr. v. iii. t, 36. Proem. et Sch. Syst, Veget. v. ii. p. 793. 
Class III, Triandria. Order IT. Digynia. 
Nat. Ord. Gramina, Linn. Graminee, Br. 
Gen. Char. Calyx lateral, two-valved, one-flowered, ternate, central, floret 
perfect, lateral ones mostly imperfect (having often, at the back of the in- 
- ner valve, a bristle or abortive floret). Outer valve of the corolla awned. 
Fruit incorporated with the corolla. " 
Spec. Char. Spike distichous, awns of the hermaphrodite florets appressed, 
the lateral ones (male) awnless. 
THE Hordeum distichon is an annual plant; its native country has no 
been satisfactorily ascertained: by some it is said to be a native of Tartary,* 
and also to have been found wild in Russia and Sicily. It has been long 
extensively cultivated in almost every country of Europe. 
* Linnzus says that it is a native of Tartary, but without adducing sufficient proof. 
Vou. V P 
