100 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDIXG TO [CH. 



No other genus of our grasses is like Horchwn. The purely 

 superlicial resemblances in the inflorescences of Polypogon, Lagurus, 

 and Cynosurus echinatus — all extremely rare species — disappear at 

 once on examination. 



In Broirms erectus the equally superficial resemblance is due to 

 the stifi'awns: the spikelet has six to twelve flowers and is stalked. 

 It should also be noted that Hordeum sylvatmcm occasionally 

 has a rudimentary second flower in the lateral spikelets (see note 

 p. 105). 



(a) A shade-grass with the central spikelet only 

 imperfect ; staminate, or rudimentary, or en- 

 tirely wanting. 



H. sylvaticuni, Huds. 



(/3) The central spikelet is the perfect one, the 

 two lateral barren. Growing in open land. 



(i) A perennial meadoiu-grass. All the 

 glumes scahrid and bristle-like. 



H. pratense, Huds. 



(ii) Annuals with some of the glumes at 

 least, lanceolate or hroad below. 



* Ruderal plant, ivith cylindrical spikes, long 

 aims ; glumes of the central flower dilated 

 below. 



H. murinum, With. 



** Mantime plant, more or less glaucous, vnth 

 short ovoid spikes: glumes of the central floiver 

 bristle-like. 



H. maritimum, With. 



(b) Spike cylindrical, of sessile or nearly sessile 

 awned spikelets, densely crowded round the 

 axis, the whole resembling a fox's brush or 

 cat's tail. 



