GRASSES OF BRITAIN. 287 



nam, the glumes of the middle spikelets are very conspicuously fringe d 

 and the aicns are much longer than their glumes. 



Hordeum sylvaticum is distinguished from Elymus arenarius in the 

 spikelets being arranged in threes on each tooth of the rachis ; glumes 

 containing one, seldom two florets ;^(;r<?^5 with long aw^ns; — whereas 

 in Elymus arenarius the spikelets are arranged in pairs on each tooth 

 of the rachis ; glumes containing three florets ; fiorets without awns. 



This grass at first sight might be mistaken for a Triticum, but the 

 fact of its having three spikelets situated on each tooth of the rachis, 

 instead of only one, will readily distinguish it. 



The broad, thin, and light green leaves, together with the length, 

 is sufficient to indicate that this plant is a natural inhabitant of 

 woods, thickets, and damp shady places, and that it contains less nu- 

 tritive matter, and not so palatable to cattle as those grasses found in 

 drier and more exposed situations. 



It grows wild in many places in England, as in Oxfordshire, Bed- 

 ford, Wilts, Herts, Bucks, Hunts, Denbigh, Derby, York, and North- 

 umberland, but I am not aware of its having been found either in 

 Ireland or Scotland. It is also a native of Norway, Sweden, France, 

 Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. 



Flowers in June, and ripens its seed about the middle of August. 



The accompanying figure was di'aw^n from a specimen gathered in 

 Yorkshire. 



Explanation of Plate CXXX. Hordeum sylvaticum^ natural size. 



Fig. 1 . Three spikelets on a tooth of the rachis, each spikelet \rith two glumes and ^ 

 one floret. 



2. One of the florets removed from the glumes. j 



3. Lateral view of one of the florets, showing the two palese and a long bristle }- 



from the base. 



4. Ovarhim, pistils, stamens, and scales. 

 3. Ligule natural size. 



