38 



PASTURE PLANTS AND PASTURES OF N.Z. 



(6) Barley Grass (Hordeum murinum). A very well-known 

 weed with hairy leaves distinguished by large clasping 

 ears at the base of the blade. The flower heads stand 



about 8 inches high and have very long 

 straight awns like those of cultivated barley. 

 The grass is very widely spread and at 

 mid-summer can be seen to occupy many 

 thousands of acres in a block. It is not 

 troublesome on land under the plough, but 

 thrives in old thin neglected pastures. Its 

 seed possesses remarkable burrowing power, 

 and is used by boys to put up their fellows' 

 sleeves, when the seed or seed heads will 

 travel to the shoulder. In the same way 

 seed getting between the locks of sheep's 

 wool will penetrate the pelt and must 

 cause extreme irritation, while occasionally 

 they may get in between a dog's toes, 

 and piercing the skin, travel upwards 

 through the muscle until they emerge at 

 the elbow. Dogs on barley grass country 

 should therefore have their feet examined at frequent 

 intervals. That the grass is freely carried by sheep is 

 plainly seen from its prevalence on sheep camps, but it is 

 only very rarely nibbled by stock. 



(7) Barren Brome (Bromus sterilis). An annual, with 

 drooping heads and very long awns. The blades frequently, 

 and the expansions at the bottom of the blade always, 

 are coloured purple, and the leaves are covered with 

 long hairs. This is a worthless weed common on roadsides 

 or on sandy pastures. 



(8) Floating Sweet Grass (Glyceria fluitans). This 

 grass occurs only in slow running or standing water, where 

 it may often quite hide the water with its broad light 



Fig. 20A. 

 Barley Grass. 



