BY E. BREAKWELL. 393 



or A. sericeiis. This is seen in the crowded vascular bundles, the 

 amount of sclerencliymatous tissue, and in the thick cuticle. 

 Although the bulliforni or hinge-cells on the upper surface are 

 distinctly fan-shaped, the advantage in the folding of the leaf is 

 somewhat uncertain, as most of the stomata are confined to the 

 inferior surface. 



A. ischcf^miim is a grass well adapted to sandy and rocky situa- 

 tions. In "L'Herb, Bossier " (vi., 971), it is mentioned as oc- 

 curring connnonly in sandy places in the Geneva Valley; and 

 also in rocky places on the side of the Alps. In Australia, it 

 grows on the Drummond Ranges in West Australia 



A. inter'ineditts, A. ajfiais, and A. sericeus do not show, in their 

 structure, any well marked xerophytic characteristics, and are 

 inclined to be more mesophytic in their nature. This is seen in 

 the comparatively small amount of sclerencliymatous tissue, the 

 comparatively thin cuticle, and in the distribution of the stomata, 

 which are numerous on both faces of the leaf. 



A. hitermedius is spoken of as thriving best on river-banks in 

 ISew youth Wales. In Africa, a variety of this grass is also 

 mentioned by Stapf as commonly occurring on the banks of 

 rivers. 



A. sericeus, however, is commonly spoken of as a drought- 

 resistant grass; but I cannot reconcile this view with my practical 

 experience with it. Rather does its habit correspond more to 

 the mesophytic type. The grass has died out at Cowra, Wagga, 

 and Bathurst Experiment Farms; and although a good catch 

 was secured, under moist conditions, at Nyngan Demonstration 

 Farm, the plot is always quick to show the effect of dry weather. 

 On the other hand, the structure of the leaf, with its numerous 

 stomata and comparatively thin cuticle, indicates the possible 

 adaptability of the grass to irrigable conditions. This has been 

 practically demonstrated at Bathurst Experiment Farm, where 

 the grass made a profuse and succulent growth under irrigation. 

 As soon as the effects of the latter were removed, the jrrass 

 quickly died out. 



My experience has also been that, in its natural state, it is 

 more commonly found on the better and moister soils; and that. 



