200 BRITISH GRASSES. 



ing roots, stiff, noble growth, and spinous leaves of the 

 normal form, but its inflorescence is very different. The 

 long massive spike is jointed near the base, and bends 

 downwards at an acute angle ; the rachis is winged and 

 the spikelets placed in pairs on the teeth. The great 

 length of the spike and its curious bend about the second 

 or third pair of spikelets are its distinguishing features. 

 Like the normal form, its natural habitat is on sandy- 

 shores • Dr. Parnell says it will grow in any kind of soil, 

 and forms a good cover for game. Its grain is probably 

 as well suited for edible purposes as that of the normal 

 form. It is very rare in England, its only recorded 

 home being Gravesend. 



There is a species common on the seacoast of Portu- 

 gal, and fulfilling there the same beneficent office which 

 our British species fulfils here, which is furnished with 

 long hair-like awns, by means of which the seeds are 

 wafted in every direction by the wind, and the industri- 

 ous labour of the Dutch performed by the kindly hand 

 of nature, — Elymus Caput-Medusce. This arrangement 

 is more requisite in the Portuguese species than in ours, 

 it being an annual grass, and consequently its utility 

 dependent on its constant reproduction. 



Genus XXVI. HORDEUM. 



Gen. Char. Spikelets in clusters of three on each tooth of 

 the rachis ; rachis jointed and breaking easily at each tooth ; 

 outer glumes narrow, pointed, terminating in bristly awns ; 

 ovary turbinate ; styles two, villose, reflexed ; stigmas fea- 

 thery ; seed oblong, swelling, angular, pointed at each end, 

 marked above with a longitudinal furrow. 



