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OUR GRASSES (Queensland). 



By F. M. Bailet, Brisbane, Corr. Member Eoyal Society 

 Tasmania. 



[Read 12tli October, 1875.] 



However lotli some may be to allow it, the foundation of 

 this country's wealth Jies in these plants. In old writings, as 

 well as those of the present day, many plants are called 

 grasses which do not belong to the Order called Oraminece by 

 botanists, but this order in its restricted sense is of the whole 

 vegetable kingdom that most useful to man, and we also find 

 it the most widely spread of JPhcenor/amo us 'pla.nts, covering the 

 liice of the globe, producing food for man and beast from the 

 poles to the equator. The numbers of species also are very 

 great, and with regard to size, while many attain but the 

 height of a few inches, there are some which rival that of 

 forest trees. Much might be said of the various uses to which 

 this valuable fomily is applied, but all attempted in this paper 

 is to draw some little attention to our pasture grasses. As 

 only those known to the writer are noticed, doubtless a large 

 number of species are left for further observation, while 

 from those mentioned an idea of the richness of Queensland 

 pasture can be formed. I have endeavoured to arrange the 

 species more with regard to their general habitat than to 

 natural affinity, which I think will be an advantage to persons 

 who may wish to collect seeds of the species under notice for 

 the purpose of proving under cultivation their real value. 



Let us notice in the first place a few of our grasses which 

 may be termed Aquatic species, for they are generally found 

 in swamps or along water-courses. Leersia Australis of Robt. 

 Brown, which the learned botanist of Victoria, Baron von 

 Mueller, who of late has given much attention to this order of 

 plants, finds to be identical with Swartz's L. hexaiidra. It is 

 the species most generally met with;a quick growing productive 

 grass. It seems to be well relished by cattle. It is also 

 botanically interesting on account of having six stamens, 

 being double the number of male organs usually found in the 

 grasses. Poa aquatica, L. the water-meadow grass, may be 

 often met with on our marsh lands ; this is a fine succulent 

 grass and crops well, but cattle are apt to pull it up, and thus 

 prevent it from producing seed that otherwise it would do in 

 abundance. Panicum airovirens, Tri., may be met with in 

 several of the creeks near Doughboy. It is one of the 

 prettiest of our indigenous grasses, and pi'omises a very fair 

 amount of fodder and seed. 



In most of our swamps will be seen a wiry growing grass 



