HORDEUM. 



203 



the last, which it resembles very much \ it is a frequent 

 inhabitant of moist meadows and pastures; in barren 

 ground its root becomes bul- 

 bous and its habit tufted ; 

 sometimes its stems assume 

 a decumbent style of growth. 

 Moist rich ground suits it 

 the best, and it grows rea- 

 dily in chalk lands. It pro- 

 duces a fair crop of herbage 

 in spring, yet is not recom- 

 mended for hay; its nutri- 

 tive qualities are consider- 

 able. The numerous rough 

 bristles of the spike must 

 be very unpleasant to the 

 mouths of cattle, and it is 

 possibly on this account that 

 the Meadow Barley procures 



so little favour as a pasture grass. It is often found in 

 rich natural pastures, as in Norfolk, etc. It is rare in 

 Scotland, and not found in Devon and Cornwall. Its 

 foreign habitats extend all over the middle of Europe. 



The flowers open in July, and the seeds are ripe in 

 August. 



3. Hordeum nmrinum, Linn. Wall Barley. 



Root annual, fibrous; stem cylindrical, smooth, leafy, 

 upright, one to two feet high ; joints smooth ; leaves narrow, 

 pointed, rough and hairy in a slight degree on both surfaces, 

 margins toothed ; sheaths without hairs, ribbed, inflated ; 

 ligule short, torn ; spike dense, cylindrical, uniform, narrow; 

 rachis jointed, brittle, toothed, winged, and flattened be- 



