When I was a kid our weapon of choice for fun-fights on the way home from school was either a handful of sticky-Jack Galium aparine or the seed heads of this grass, wall barley Hordeum murinum. Used as darts, they’d sticky satisfyingly into the woolly school jumper of an opponent. These days, I tend to appreciate this common grass for its aesthetic qualities, especially when its long awns catch the early morning sunlight or are covered in dew.
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lol I remember throwing these as a kid too.
ReplyDeleteAnd they always seemed to have tiny insects amongst them.
A great reminder of childhood Phil; thanks for that, it really brought a smile to my face reading that.
I never knew what it was called either.
I've just gone back fourty odd years or more. lol
Beautiful images and the dew always enhances both webs and plants.
ReplyDeleteI must have led a more peaceful childhood! But I do remember being able to fold the stalk of a plantain in such a way that when you pulled it, the head flew off - it travelled about six inches if I recall, so it wasn't too dangerous.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics; Wall barley is a personal favourite. Cleavers was known as Sticky jack in my childhood but my wife (from Scotland) calls it Sticky willy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith, the tiny hooks on those long awns made them difficult to remove from clothing, didn't they?
ReplyDeleteThanks Adrian, dew does add an extra dimension to everything, even if it does mean getting wet feet to appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteHi Emma, I rememebr being shown the plantain trick too, although I could make it work very well either..
ReplyDeleteHi Abbey meadows, we also new it as goosegrass when we were kids - I wonder if geese eat it?
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