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8. Panicum tenuissimum, Benth. 
Botanical name.—Tenuissimum, superlative of the Latin tenws, 
thin or slender. The grass is a very slender one. 
Botanical description (B.F1., vii, 470).—Erect, very slender, much 
branched at the base, often above 1 foot high. 
Leaves short and narrow, quite glabrous, the ligula short, scarious and jagged. 
Spikes or panicle-branches few, usually three, filiform, spreading, distant, 1 to 14 
inches long, 
Spikelets in pairs, ovoid, quite glabrous, but little more than 4 line long, both pedi- 
cellate, but one pedicel twice as long as the other. 
Outer glume minute, almost microscopic, orbicular. 
Second and third nearly equal, both empty, obtuse, membranous, three to five nerved. 
Fruiting glume rather acute, usually slightly exceeding the empty ones. 
Value as a fodder.—A palatable grass, which is probably nutritious. 
Habitat and range.—Along the Northern rivers; also in Queens- 
land. 
9. Panicum parviflorum, R.Br. 
Botanical name.—Parviflorum, Latin parvus, small, and jlos, floris a 
flower ; small-flowered. 
Vernacular name.—Small-flowered Finger-grass. 
Where figured.—Bailey, Agricultural Gazette. 
Botanical description (B.F1., vu, 470).—A tall but slender usually 
glabrous grass. 
Leaves long and narrow, the /igula scarious, often long, jagged at the end. 
Panicle-branches often numerous, spreading, simple, filiform, 2 to 4 inches or in some 
specimens 5 to 6 inches long, the lower ones distant, the upper ones often 
crowded. 
Spikelets ovoid, glabrous, 4 to 3 line long, mostly in pairs along the flexuose rhachis, 
one on a longer pedicel than the other; but in the lower part of the branch 
often clustered, the longer pedicel bearing two or three spikelets. 
Outer glume very small, ovate usually one-nerved. 
Second and third glumes nearly equal, both empty, membranous, obtuse, the second 
usually three-nerved, the third five-nerved, 
Fruiting glume as long, more acute, smooth. 
Value as a fodder.—A rather tall, slender grass, which is so eagerly 
sought after by cattle that it does not usually mature seed, except in 
sheltered situations. There is no doubt it is a valuable grass, and 
attention has been drawn to it chiefly by Bailey and O’Shanesy. Mr. 
Bailey (speaking of Queensland) observes that there are several forms 
of it. “That on the dry ridges is somewhat wiry when in flower, but 
makes a good tufty bottom. The tall form is usually met with near 
watercourses and in rich scrub-land.”’ 
Botanical notes——Var. pilosa, more or less hairy. Common in 
Southern Queensland, and very probably to be met with in Northern 
New South Wales. 
Habitat and range.—Coast district to the table-land, from North 
Illawarra to Queensland. 
