316 



COLLEGE BOTANY 



records as to when it was first cultivated. It is now grown 

 extensively in the colder parts of the temperate zones. In some 

 parts of Europe it is a more important bread plant than wheat. 

 Barley (Hordeum distichon) is grown very extensively as 

 an annual. The roots, stems and leaves are similar to those of 

 the wheat. The inflorescence is a cylindrical spike; each spiko- 



let is one-flowered, the glumes 

 are narrow, the lemma broad, 

 rounded, five-nerved and with 

 long awn, the palet about the 

 same length and two-nerved; 

 three stamens and one ovary 

 with two stigmas. 



The origin of barley and 

 its early cultivation is un- 

 known. It is supposed to 

 have originated in western 

 Asia and to have spread from 

 there into the Mediterranean 

 region. It is now used exten- 

 sively as a food plant for both 

 man and live stock. 



Oat (Avena saliva) is 

 grown extensively as an 

 annual farm crop. The roots, 

 steins and leaves are similar 

 to those of the wheat. The 

 inflorescence is a panicle, each spikelet has two to five flowers; 

 glumes two, loose, membranous and without terminal awns, the 

 lower one usually toothed and with twisted awn on back; three 

 stamens and one ovary with two sessile stigmas. 



Oats are supposed to have originated in central Asia at a 

 very early period in history. They are grown wherever con- 

 ditions will permit and used extensively as a food for both man 

 and live stock. The fact that it is a short-season crop makes it 



a 



FIG. 157. Single blossom of rye; (a) sta- 

 men; (o) pistil. 



