118 THE SMALL GRAINS 



rarely composite. The rachis is strongly compressed, 

 flattened, hairy at the margins, with hollows present alter- 

 nately on the two flat sides, in which the spikelets stand. 

 Opposite and below each hollow the rachis segment 



Fio. 36. Young plant of winter barley. 



springs out abruptly. This character permits an easy 

 distinction of a barley head from that of wheat or rye, 

 even with the rachis quite glabrous, as such peculiarity 

 is lacking in those cereals. It is further characteristic 

 of the barley rachis that its margins on the flat side 

 next to the spikelet have a narrow longitudinal promi- 



