GEASS FAMTLT. 



393 



1. H. tulga'ee, L. Spikelets all fertile, awned, — the florets arranged 

 so as to form a nearly four- (or somewhat 6-) sided spike. 



Common Hordeum. Barley. Four-rowed Barley. 



jP?-. Orge commune. Germ. Gemeine Gerste. Span. Cebada. 



Eool annual. Culm 2-3 feet high, smooth. Leaves 6-15 inches long, lance-linear, 

 keeled, striate, smoothish ; sheaths nerved, smooth, auriculate at throat ; ligulexery short. 

 Spike about 3 inches long, rather thick and somewhat 4-sided ; racAts compressed, smooth, 

 pubescent on the margin. 



Fields : cultivated. Native of Sicily and Tartary. FL May. Fr. June. 



Obs. The ternate spikelets of this species being all fertile, the spike 

 often assumes somewhat of a six-sided appearance ; and I understand 

 that in Western Xew-Tork — the great Barley region of this country — 

 it is usually called Six-rowed Barley, — though that name would seem 

 more properly to belong to another nearly allied species (H. hexastichum, 

 L.) — if, indeed, it be really distinct. This and the following species are 

 cultivated extensively in the middle and northern States — and almost 

 exclusively for the Breweries. The grain is rarely given to cattle, — and 

 Barley bread is unknown in the United States. The plant requires a 

 good soil, — and hence serves as a kind of index to the quality of the 

 farms in Pennsylvania : the fallow crop on good laud being generally 

 Barley, — while the occupants of a poor soil have to be content with a 

 crop of Oats. 



2. H. dis'tichum, L. Lateral spikelets sterile, awnless, — the fertile 

 ones awned, distichous or forming a two-sided spike. 



Distichous Hordeum. Two-rowed Barley. 



Root annual. Culm 2-3 feet high, smooth. Leaves 6-15 inches long, lance-linear, 

 nerved, scabrous on the upper surface ; slieaths nerved, smooth, with 2 lanceolate, auricu- 

 late appendages at throat ; ligule short, truncate. Spike 3-4 inches long, compressed or 

 ancipital, linear ; rachis flatted, smooth, hirsute on the margin. 



Native of Tartary. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This species is something later than the preceding, in coming to 

 maturity ; and on that account is preferred by many farmers in Penn- 

 sylvania, — as it interferes less with their Hay crops. It also stands bet- 

 ter than the preceding, after it is ripe, — and yields a heavier grain — 

 though not a greater quantity. The seed, of both species, is usually 

 sown (in Pennsylvania) about the last of March. 



22. AYE'NA, L. Oat. 



[The classical Latin name.] 



Spikelets 2 - many-flowered in a loose, large and somewhat nodding pani- 

 cle ; the florets herbaceo-chartaceous, of a firmer texture than the glumes, 

 somewhat distant ; the terminal one abortive. Glumes somewhat un- 

 equal, loose and membranaceous. Louder palei convex on the back, 5 - 

 9-nerved, with a bent or twisted awn (proceeding from the middle nerve 

 17^^ 



