142 



of the preceding, that, excepting the remarkable peculiarity of the 

 fructification, it must be considered the same ; but the difference of 

 the latter is so striking as to render the circumstance doubtful. The 

 spike-like panicle is at first erect, but eventually becomes more or less 

 sharply bent downwards at the first, second, or third spikelet, or pair 

 of spikelets, so as to hang perpendicularly. The lowermost spikelet is 

 usually solitary, but those above it are aU but universally in pairs, like 

 those of E. arenarius : the teeth of the rachis are, however, so widely 

 apart, in its lower portion especially, being sometimes at the distance 

 of two or three inches from each other, as to extend greatly the general 

 mass of inflorescence, which, in garden specimens, occasionally attains 

 more than double the length of that of the erect species, measuring 

 nearly two feet. The edges of the rachis are winged or bordered, but 

 this and the other differential features mentioned in the specific 

 character are of very trifling importance. 



Perennial. Flowers in July. 



I have seen the original specimen of this curious grass growing in 

 the garden of Mr. Dickson, near Croydon, many years past, and other 

 garden specimens since in the living state and preserved in herbariums ; ' 

 and, while ready to admit that it is one of the most remarkable among 

 grass productions, am satisfied that it has no claim to consideration as 

 a species, though it is a permanent and most singular variety. Sir W. 

 J. Hooker, in the ' British Flora,' refers to his possession of " some- 

 thing very like it in a diseased state of JE. arenarius, gathered in 

 Scotland by Mr. McNab ; " and it is said by Mr. Bentham to be found 

 " occasionally on the coasts of Holland and Scandinavia ; " but I am not 

 aware of its having been met with by any person near Gravesend, or 

 elsewhere, in England, since Mr. Dickson's time ; and the locality that 

 produced his specimens has long been rendered unavailable to the 

 researches of the botanist. 



Genus 40. HORDEUM. BARLEY. Barley Grass. 



Gen. Char. Inflorescence compact, spicate. Spikelets subsessUe, 

 three together on alternate notches, or teeth of a jointed rachis; 

 the two lateral ones of each cluster usually barren ; the central 

 one with one perfect flower, and a second rudimentary only. 

 Glumes two, both on the same side of the spikelet or collateral, 

 ending in long bristles. Outer palea awned, both coherent with 

 the ripening fruit. 



A small genus, distributed over the northern hemisphere, chiefly in 

 the temperate regions, of which the kinds cultivated as corn, probably 

 not more than two distinct species, are alone valuable in human 

 economy. The other species, chiefly annual, grow in meadows, pas- 

 tures, and woods, and occasionally covering poor sandy ground, but 

 are disliked by cattle, and regarded generally as worthless weeds. 



The name Hordeum, first applied to the cereal species, is of doubtful 

 origin ; but, according to some writers, may be derived from hordm, 



