The spikelets of this curious plant are
oneflowered and provided with two linear glumes or outer scales. Of the
inner scales or palets, the outer one is three-lobed at the summit,
hence the varietal name of _Hordeum vulgare trifurcatum_. The central
lobe is oblong and hollow, covering a small supernumerary floret
inserted [204] at its base. The two lateral lobes are narrower,
sometimes linear, and are often prolonged into an awn, which is
generally turned away from the center of the spike. The central lobe
sometimes bears two florets at its base, although but one is usually
present and it may be incomplete.
I might give one more instance from my own experience. A variety of the
evening-primrose with small linear petals was once found by one of my
sons growing wild near Amsterdam. It was represented by only one
individual, flowering among a great many of the ordinary type with broad
petals. But the evening-primroses open their anthers in the morning,
fertilize themselves during the day, and only display their beautiful
flowers in the evening, after the pollination has been accomplished.
They then allure evening moths, such as _Agrotis_ and _Plusia_, by their
bright color, their sweet honeysmell and their nectar. Since the
fertilization is accomplished many hours before opening, crosses are
effected only in rare instances, and the seeds commonly remain true to
the parent type.
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