30 GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. 



cence spiked. Spike usually about an inch or rather more in length, 

 dense and uniform ; rachis jointed, toothed alternately on each side, 

 the intermediate spaces flattened and fringed at the borders. Spike- 

 lets arranged in threes on each side of the rachis, of one awned floret. 

 Calyx of the central spikelet of two equal bristle- shaped rough glumes, 

 (Fig. 1. ) Floret of two paleae ; the outer palea terminating in a long, 

 rough, straight awn, longer than those of the calyx ; inner palea li- 

 near, acute, with a bristle at the base about half the length of the pa- 

 lea. Lateral spikelets pedunculated ; outer glume bristle-shaped, 

 (Fig. 3) ; inner glume dilated into a half-ovate form, (Fig. 2), and 

 terminating in a long rough awn. Floret imperfect, barren, with a 

 short rough awn, not half the length of those of the glumes. 



Obs. — Hordeum maritimum is distinguished from Hordeum pratense 

 in the inner glume of the lateral spikelet being dilated on one side, in 

 the form of half-ovate, (Fig. 2) ; — whereas in H. pratense all the 

 glumes are bristle-shaped, neither dilated or fringed, (Fig. 2.) 



From Hordeum murinum in ih^ glumes of the middle spikelet being 

 bristle-shaped, and the inner glume of the lateral spikelets very con- 

 spicuously dilated on one side in the form of half-ovate, (Fig. 2) ; — 

 whereas in H. murinum the glumes of the middle spikelet are dilat- 

 ed and fi'inged, (Fig. 1), and the inner glume of the lateral spikelets 

 but very slightly dilated, (Fig. 2). 



Fortunately this grass is not common, for when it happens to be 

 mixed with hay, the short rough awns irritate the gums of horses, 

 causing inflammation and thereby disease. It is found in pastures 

 and sandy ground near the sea. 



It is of rare occurrence in Scotland, found occasionally on the coast 

 of Angus-shire. In England it occurs along the coasts of North- 

 umberland, Durham, York, Glamorgan, Gloucester, Norfolk, Suf- 

 folk, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. In Ire- 

 land occasionally. It does not appear to exist further north than the 

 Baltic, and is frequent along the Mediterranean. It is unknown in 

 America. Flowers in June and Jul v. 



