Hordeum marinum subsp. gussoneanum (Parl.) Thell.

Closely tufted, glaucous annuals, 7.5–40–(85) cm. Leaf-sheath green or straw-coloured, without auricles, lower covered with short, soft, horizontally spreading hairs, upper glabrous, the uppermost ± inflated. Ligule 0.2–0.6 mm, truncate, erose to ciliate. Leaf-blade 2–7–(14) cm × 1.5–2.5–(3.5) mm, flat, narrowed to acute tip, margins minutely scabrid, pilose or abaxially sometimes less densely hairy to ± glabrous. Culm 5–35–(80) cm, often decumbent, internodes glabrous. Raceme erect, glaucous, dense-flowered, ± oblong, 2–6 × 1–2 cm; rachis fragile but not disarticulating readily, margins finely ciliate. Central ☿ spikelet sessile; lateral spikelets Ø, on slender pedicels 0.5–1 mm. Glumes of all spikelets ± equal, 10–15 mm, scabrid, awn-like, glumes of lateral spikelets overtopping lemma awns, inner occasionally widened at base. Lemmas of lateral spikelets 2.5–5 mm, abaxially glabrous, with scabrid awn 2–7 mm, adaxially with scattered hairs; rachilla prolongation 1–3 mm. Lemma of central spikelet 5.5–7.5 mm, abaxially glabrous, scabrid awn 6–15 mm overtopping glumes, adaxially with scattered soft hairs above. Palea = lemma, folded, keels shortly excurrent and scabrid near tip, abaxially glabrous, adaxially with a few short hairs apically. Rachilla prolongation c. 2.5–4 mm. Lodicules 1 mm, glabrous. Anthers 0.75–1.3 mm. Gynoecium: ovary c. 0.5 mm; stigma-styles 1.2–1.5 mm. Caryopsis 3–5 × 1–1.5 mm; embryo 0.5 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing). as Critesion hystrix (Roth) Á.Löve]