594 THE GHASS TAMILT. 



Tn maritime sands, common in the temperate and colder regions of tlie 

 northern hemisphere, more local on the Mediterranean and in hotter climates, 

 and occurring occasionally in inland central Europe. Extends all round 

 the British Isles, but more frequent in the north than in the south. Fl. 

 summer. A singular varietv, with the spike much elongated, the spikelets 

 distant, and the glumes often enlarged, in which also the whole spike is 

 abruptly bent down, has been distinguished as a species, under the name of 

 \\ie pendulous E. {E. geniculatvs, Eng. Bot. t. 1586). It is occasionaUj met 

 with on the coasts of Holland aud Scandinavia, and is said to have been 

 gathered formerly on the Thames below Gravesend. 



XXVI. BARLEY. HOEDEUM. 



Spikelets 3 together, sessile on alternate notches of a simple spike, 1 or 2 

 of them consisting each of 2 glumes, either empty or with male or rudimentary 

 flowers, the 2 or 1 others containing eachl perfect flower; the empty glumes 

 of the 3 spikelets often reduced to mere awns, and forming a kind of invo- 

 lucre round the flovrering glume. 



A genus of few species, dispersed over the temperate regions of both 

 hemispheres, chiefly in maritime districts, and rare in the tropics. The 

 origin of the 2 or 3 cultivated species has not been as yet satisfactorily made 

 out. 



Flowers of the 2 lateral spikelets perfect ; of the central one male, or 



rudimentary, or none 1. Wood B. 



Flowers of the central spikelet perfect ; of the lateral ones male, or 

 rudimentary, or none. 

 Outer glumes of all the spikelets awn-like from the base .... 2. Meadow B. 

 Outer glumes of the central spikelet lanceolate, and ciliate at the 



base ; of the others awn-like from the base 3. Wall B. 



Outer glumes of all the spikelets slightly dilated at the base, not 



ciliate, and one of each lateral spikelet broader than the rest . 4. Sea B. 



1. ^Vood Barley. Hordeiuu sylvatictiin, Huds. 



(Elymus europaus, Eng. Bot. t. 1317.) 

 An erect perennial, about 2 feet high, with flat leaves, usually hairy on 

 the sheaths. Spike cylindrical, not very dense, about 3 inches long. The 

 central spikelet of each notch is reduced to 2 narrow-linear glumes, either 

 quite empty or rarely containing a rudimentary or male flower; the 2 lateral 

 spikelets have each 1 perfect flower, and sometimes a second, either rudi- 

 mentary or male ; the outer glumes like those of the central spikelet, but 

 rather broader and longer, and placed side by side; the flowering glume 

 shorter, but terminating in a long awn. 



In woods and thickets, in central and southern Europe, extending east- 

 ward to the Caucasus and northward to southern Scandinavia. In Britain, 

 not rare in some of the midland and northern counties of England, but not 

 found in Ireland or Scotland. Fl. summer. 



2. Meado'^ Barley. Hordeum pratense, Huds. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 409.) 

 An erect or decumbent annual or perennial, often 2 feet high, and tuft«d 

 or bulbous at the base. Leaves glabrous and rather narrow. Spike 1^ to 

 2 inches long, close and cylindrical. To each notch are 3 pairs of awn-like, 

 rough glumes ; within the central pair is a flowering glume, lanceolate, but 

 completely roUed round the flower, and tapering into an awn as long as 



