G75 



MEADOW BARLEY 



Hor'deum nodo'sum 



Flower heads (spikes) slender, up to 3 

 in. long and % in. thick, the axis (rachis) 

 breaking up at maturity 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 

 1-flowered, appressed, crowded, in 3's 

 at each -joint of the somewhat zigzag 

 rachis, of 2 kinds: middle spikelet of 

 each group of 3 stalkless, seed-produc- 

 ing; 2 side spikelets short-stalked, not 

 seed-producing 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 bristle-like for both kinds of spikelets 



Outer flower bract (lemma) tipped by 

 an erect bristle (awn) up to about X in- 

 long in case of the fertile spikelet; 

 lemma of sterile spikelet smaller and 

 very short-awned or awnless 



Leaves up to 6 In. long and about Y\ 

 in. wide, harsh 



Stalks (culms) tufted, erect or spread- 

 ing, at base, up to 32 in. high, smooth 



Roots fibrous, usually perennial 



