Hordeum murinum L.

Loosely tufted, light green annuals, 10–70 cm. Leaf-sheath green to light straw-coloured, with hyaline, clasping, glabrous auricles 1.5–3 mm, upper glabrous, uppermost ± inflated. Ligule 0.3–1 mm, rounded, minutely ciliate. Leaf-blade soft, flat, with scattered, long, fine hairs, ribs glabrous or very finely scabrid; margins very finely scabrid, tip acute. Culm 6–50 cm, erect or geniculate; internodes glabrous. Raceme very dense-flowered, oblong, 4–10 × 1–3.5 cm, including the erect or sometimes spreading awns; rachis fragile. Central ☿ spikelet sessile or pedicelled; lateral spikelets ♂ or Ø, pedicels 1–1.5 mm. Lateral spikelets: glumes unequal, ± dissimilar, outer very narrow, scabrid, ± awn-like throughout, inner slightly wider near base awn-like above; lemma adaxially copiously hairy, awned; palea = lemma, keels scabrid near minutely bifid ciliate apex; rachilla prolongation 2.5–3.5 mm; lodicules ciliate. Central spikelet: glumes equal, similar, 15–30 mm, widened near base, margins ciliate, awn-like and scabrid above; lemma 7–14 mm, lanceolate, long awned; palea = lemma, folded, keels scabrid above; rachilla prolongation 4–5 mm; lodicules 1.0–1.8 mm, ciliate. Gynoecium: ovary 0.6–1 mm; stigma-styles 1–2 mm. Caryopsis 5–9.5 × 1.5–2 mm; embryo 1.5 mm. Fig. 14. Plate 3C.

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