Hordeum marinum* Huds. Fl. Angl.
Ed. 2, 1: 57 (1778).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Triticeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: Morison, Hist. Oxon. 3: 179, t. 6, f. 5 (1699).
Recent synonyms:
Critesion marinum, Hordeum maritimum.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (200), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (272), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (280), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (114).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (272, fig. 211), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (280), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (113, Fig.17).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 10–40 cm tall, 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheath
auricles absent, or present. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.5–1 mm long,
hyaline. Leaf-blades flat, 1.5–8 cm long, 1–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a spike. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 2 in the
cluster. Companion spikelets developed, containing empty lemmas, 3–5 mm long.
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla
extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 6–11 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume subulate, cartilaginous or indurate. Upper glume subulate,
10–24 mm long.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5.5–8 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous or
awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 3–24 mm long overall. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria,
Tasmania.
South Australia:
Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland:
Moreton. New South Wales: Southern Tablelands, South-Western Plains. Victoria:
Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee, Wimmera, Wannon, Grampians, Riverina, Midlands,
Volcanic Plain, Otway Plain, Gippsland Plain, East Gippsland. Tasmania:
Midlands, East Coast.
Notes.
Indigenous to S and W Europe, naturalised in all eastern Australian states
where it is found predominantly in coastal and inland saline habitats. Flowers
Oct.-Jan.