Citation: Hudson, Fl. Angl. edn 2, 1:57 (1778).

Synonymy: Critesion marinurn (Hudson) Á. Löve, Taxon 29:350 (1980); H. maritimum With., Bot.arr. Brit. Pl. 172 (1787), nom. illegit. , Critesion marinum

Common name: Sea barley.

Description:
Annual, 15-20 cm high, uppermost leaf sheath glabrous, swollen, lower sheaths villous.

Spike 2-3 cm long, bristly; central spikelet fertile, its lemma linear-lanceolate, 6-7 mm long, with a straight terminal awn 1.5-2 cm long (2-3 times as long as the lemma), the 2 glumes awn-like throughout; lemma of the lateral spikelets narrow and barren, c. 5 mm long with an awn about as long and therefore much shorter than the glumes which are c. 2 cm long; first glume capillary throughout, the second glume dilated and channelled in the lower part, scabrous but without prominent cilia.

Distribution:  Although not a coastal species in Australia, it tends to occur in salty areas subject to inundation. S.Aust.: FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.   Native to Europe, where it is a coastal species. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Oct. — Jan.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available