Seedlings.
I. First expanded aerial leaves broad, bright green, with 18-24 ribs.
Barley.
The blade tends to twist to the left: auricles, when well developed, long, pointed, and claw-like, embracing the glabrous sheath in front. Ligule long, membranous, pointed and irregularly toothed. The plumule emerges at the upper end of the grain, and the embryo has 5-6 secondary roots.
II. First aerial leaves narrower, with not more than 11-13 ribs.
A. Ligule long, rounded and toothed.
Wheat.
The blade tends to twist to the left: auricles filiform and embrace the densely pubescent sheath. Leaves green. Embryo with three roots.
B. Ligule short and toothed. Leaves with a reddish cast.
(a) Blade and sheath softly hairy, the latter with scattered long hairs, the former tending to twist to the left.
Rye.
The first leaf-sheath purple. Auricle-claws more triangular and smaller than those of wheat, and the accompanying bristles are fewer and shorter. Embryonic roots four.