SPERMATOPHYTA—GRAMINEAE— GRASSES 367 



ring in the saline soils of the plains, the great lakes and along the seacoast 

 extending far northward. Its extension eastward and westward has taken place 

 in the more recent times. 



Hordeum sccalinum, Schreb. Little Barley 



An erect annual from 4-10 inches high, more or less geniculate at the lower 

 end; sheaths smooth or upper often inflated; leaf blade 1-3 inches long; spikes 

 narrow; empty glumes rigid, those of the central spikelet scarcely lanceolate, 

 all awn pointed; flowering glume of the central spikelet awned or nearly so. 



Distribution. Common and troublesome especially as far east as Missouri, 

 Nebraska, British Columbia, and California. 



Hordeum murinuvi, h- Wild Barley 



An annual from 1-2 feet tall; erect or geniculate at the base; leaves rough; 

 spikes from 2y2-5 inches long; spikelets usually in 3's; scales awned, the empty 

 glumes awnlike and scabrous, the second scale of the lateral spikelets not cjliate, 

 the flowering glumes scabrous at the apex, bearing an awn about Wi-lyi inches 

 long. 



Common on the Pacific coast and the dry regions of Utah, New Mexico, 

 Arizona, and occurring on ballast in the Eastern states. 



Mechanical injuries. It has long been known that the barbed awns of barley, 

 wild barley and other plants act injuriously in a mechanical way. In the west 

 this is especially true of wild barley {Hordeum juhatum). 



Dr. S. H. Johnson, of Carroll, states in the Carroll Herald, that this grass, 

 when found in hay and allowed to ripen, if in any quantity, is very injurious 

 to horses' mouths. He says : 



The small awns seem to work in and cause deep ulcerating sores, which form under 

 the tongue and lips. The writer has seen a large number affected and made a careful 

 examination, and found the awns deep in the flesh, where they had remained for three 

 months or more. I have seen lips eaten completely through and tongues eaten almost ofif 

 by the grass. As to cattle, I have seen some affected, but not to any extent, because 

 the mucuous membranes are much thicker. The sooner the grass is eradicated the 

 better. 



Professor Nelson, who has carefully studied this question, says on the injury 

 to stock : 



The awned heads, when taken into the mouth .break up into numerous sections, 

 scatter within the mouth and everywhere adhere to the mucous membrane, which soon 

 becomes pierced with the long stiff awns. As the animal continues to feed, more awns 

 are added, and those already present are pushed deeper into the flesh. Inflammation soon 

 results and leaves the gums of the animal in condition to be more easily penetrated. 

 The awns are particularly liable to be pushed down and alongside and between the 

 teeth. As the swelling and festering progress the awns are packed in tighter and pushed 

 deeper and cause suppuration of the gums as well as ulceration of the jaw bones and 

 the teeth. Through the absorption of the ulcerated sockets and roots the teeth become 

 loosened and even drop out, but the animal, impelled by hunger, still endeavors to eat 

 such hay as may be offered. 



The above statements apply largely to H. jubatuin, but are equally true of 

 all other species given above. 



2. CYPERACEAE. Sedge Family 



Grass-like, or rush-like herbs. Culms slender, solid or rarely hollow, frequent- 

 ly triangular, terete, quadrangular or flattened; roots fibrous and, frequently, 

 creeping rhizomes, leaves narrow, sheathes closed; flowers perfect or imperfect. 



