100 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO [CH. 



No other genus of our grasses is like Hordeum. The purely 

 superficial resemblances in the inflorescences of Polypogon, Lagv/rus, 

 and Cynosurus eehinatus — all extremely rare species — disappear at 

 once on examination. 



In Bromus erectus the equally superficial resemblance is due to 

 the stiff awns : the spikelet has six to twelve flowers and is stalked. 



It should also be noted that Hordeum sylvaticum occasionally 

 has a rudimentary second flower in the lateral spikelets (see note 

 p. 105). 



(a) A shade-grass with the central spikelet only 

 imperfect ; staminate, or rudimentary, or en- 

 tirely wanting. 



H. sylvaticum, Huds. 



(fi) The central spikelet is the perfect one, the 

 two lateral barren. Growing in open land. 



(i) A perennial meadow-grass. All the 

 glumes scahrid and bristle-like. 



H. pratense, Huds. 



(ii) Annuals with some of the glumes at 

 least, lanceolate or broad below. 



* Ruderal plant, with cylindrical spikes, long 

 avms ; glumes of the central flower dilated 

 hdow. 



H. murinum, With. 



** Maritime plant, Tnore or less glaibcous, with 

 short ovoid spikes : glumes of the central flower 

 bristle-like. 



H. maritimum, With. 



(6) Spike cylindrical, of sessile or nearly sessile 

 awned spikelets, densely crowded round the 

 axis, the whole resembling a fox's brush or 

 cat's tail. 



