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bombijcinus is copiously covered with silvery white hairs, which 

 give the plant when in flower a remarkable appearance. This 

 grass grows very plentifully in some parts of the interior, and 

 when in bloom gives one, at first sight, the impression that snow 

 has fallen. " Early spring grass " (Eriochloa punctata) is another 

 plant with bluish leaves, which give quite a feature to many 

 grazing areas, both east and west of the Dividing Range. This 

 valuable perennial species attains a height of from two to three 

 feet, and generally grows on rich land, where it produces a great 

 amount of nutritious succulent herbage much sought by all 

 herbivora, which thrive and fatten on it. 



The "kangaroo grass" (Anthistiria ciliata)* is one of the most 

 widely distributed plants on the Australian continent, but is more 

 abundant in the coastal districts than in the interior. On country 

 that is not heavily stocked it sometimes grows six feet high in 

 good seasons, but generally it does not exceed four feet. In the 

 warmer parts it grows more or less all the year round, but south 

 of latitude 32 deg. it is essentially a summer grass, for it seldom 

 makes much growth before October or November, and remains 

 beautifully green during the hot months. Soon after the flowering 

 stems have developed the leaves turn slightly brown when its 

 nutritive qualities are considered at their highest. All herbivora 

 are fond of and do well on the u kangaroo grass," and horses and 

 bullocks when allowed to graze in pastures where it is growing 

 plentifully can be worked very hard, and still keep in good 

 condition — a practical proof of its value for feeding purposes. 

 Analysis has shown that this grass has a high feeding value. 

 Unfortunately it does not mature as much seed as some of its 

 congeners, consequently it is not as plentiful in many places as 

 formerly. Two other perennial and one annual species of this genus 

 occur in many parts of the continent. The last-named Anthi- 

 stiria 7nr7nbra nacea (= Iseilema Mitchellii Anderss.), popularly 

 called "Barcoo," u Landsborough " and "Red Gulf " grass, generally 

 grows on rich soils, and covers large tracts of country in the north, 

 and in the interior, including Central Australia. Us seeds 

 germinate readily after the spring and early summer rains, and 

 the resulting grass grows throughout the hottest period of the 

 year. It is generally seen growing in small tufts, but in favourable 

 seasons the weak steins lengthen very much, and form an 

 entangled mass of herbage, often two feet deep. The " Barcoo " 

 grass assumes a reddish tint — hence one of its popular names — and 

 thus gives a singular appearance to large areas of country. It is 

 a most nutritious grass, and in autumn often gets so exceedingly 

 dry and brittle that it breaks up into innumerable pieces, but 

 stock are so fond of it that even then they lick the broken stems 

 and leaves from the ground. 



Mitchell grass. — Astrebla triticoides is one of three species of 

 the same genus bearing the common name of i% Mitchell grass." 

 These famous grasses are found on the fertile plains over a great 

 part of the interior, and many pastoralists and stockmen regard 

 them as the best of all the native grasses, both for their drought- 

 enduring qualities and for their fattening properties. All of them 



fm 



* This is A.imherbis (Themeda Forskali of Hackers monograph). A. ciliata 

 is an annual. — Ed. 



