No other genus of our grasses is like Hordeum. The purely superficial resemblances in the inflorescences of Polypogon, Lagurus, and Cynosurus echinatus—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]).
(α) A shade-grass with the central spikelet only imperfect; staminate, or rudimentary, or entirely wanting.
H. sylvaticum, Huds.
(β) The central spikelet is the perfect one, the two lateral barren. Growing in open land.
(i) A perennial meadow-grass. All the glumes scabrid 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 awns; glumes of the central flower dilated below.
H. murinum, With.