HORDEUM. 205 



London, in the many districts where fields and market 

 gardens are being so rapidly converted into streets and 

 squares, the Wall Barley abounds ; the transition state 

 seems to suit it, the fences are thrown down, the turf 

 broken up between the new houses and the site for the 

 next row of buildings ; heaps of earth and brickdust and 

 indescribable rubbish lie, and the Wall Barley greens it 

 all over, and tempts the unwary passenger to tread 

 boldly as if on even ground. It does not disdain a place 

 on wall-tops provided a little earth has settled there, but 

 it grows in a dwarfed form in that position. It is rare 

 in Scotland, but very common in England and Ireland, 

 also in Germany, and throughout the south of Europe. 

 In Lapland, Sweden, Norway, and America it is un- 

 known. 



According to Sir J. E. Smith, its botanical name is 

 not taken from murus, a wall, but from mus, muris, a 

 mouse, in allusion to the hair-like awns lying over one 

 another like the hairs of fur. 



It is distinguished from the succeeding species by the 

 glumes of the central spikelet being spread at the base 

 and fringed. 



Its nutritive properties are not worthy of mention. 



It flowers at the end of June and beginning of July. 

 Like the other Hordeums, it is destitute of any claim to 

 beauty, as its anthers are pale and little protruded. 



4. Hordeum maritimum, With. Sea Barley. 



Boot annual, fibrous ; stems decumbent at the base, then 

 ascending, cylindrical, smooth, glossy, leafy ; joints smooth ; 

 leaves narrow, short, pointed, rather rough, hairy above and 

 below, somewhat glaucous ; sheaths smooth, ribbed, only 



