34: 
Second glume the largest, membranous, five-nerved, fringed on each side with long 
pale or dark-coloured hairs, spreading in fruit, and connected at the base on the 
intramarginal nerve. 
Third glume more rigid, though thin, with a small palea, and sometimes three 
stamens in the axil. 
Fruiting glume more rigid, with a rather longer point, the palea also rigid, but the 
inflexed margins thin, with a distinct lobe at the base on each side. 
Value as a fodder.—A. strong-growing useful grass, much relished 
by stock, particularly when young and tender. 
Other wses.—Lumholtz found this grass, in Northern Queensland, 
to form the principal food of white cockatoos. (Bailey.) 
Habitat and range-—Extends from this Colony to Queensland and 
Northern Australia, from the Liverpool Plains northerly and westerly 
to the dry country. O’Shanesy says that (in Queensland) it indicates 
a poor clay soil. It is also found in Africa, and in tropical Asia from 
Ceylon and the Indian Peninsula to the Malayan Archipelago and 
South China. 
Reference to Plate.—a, Portion of a panicle; B, Spikelet, showing relative size of outer 
glume ; c, Spikelet dissected, showing outer glume, second and third glume, and fruiting 
glume with its palea; bp, Part of fruiting glume, tipped with a minute point, and 
minutely transversely rugose. 
Serres IT].—PaspaLomweEes. 
Spikelets sessile or very shortly pedicellate, in one or two rows, 
very rarely in pairs, along the short simple alternate, often distant, 
spikes or spike-like branches of the panicle, rarely reduced to a single 
terminal spike. 
Spikes erect, several, distant. Spikelets usually sessile, glabrous in two close rows. 
Spikelets oblique, 1 to 14 lines long, in close regular rows ; second 
glume broad, gibbous ; third glume flatter, with a palea in its 
apciils Pr:: Ae sn aie be. = re eo .. 17. P. flavidum. 
Spikelets nearly straight, 1 to 14 lines long, the rows not always 
regular, and sometimes very few in the spike; second and 
third glumes nearly equal, both empty ... on alk xr 
Spikes usually approximate, erect, or at length spreading. Spikelets 
not so closely sessile, nearly 2 lines long, in two rows, and 
frequently subtended by hairs or bristles. A broad palea in the 
third glume. Fruiting glumes obtuse, with an awn-like point 20. P. helopus. 
Spikes distant, at length spreading or reflexed. Spikelets alternate 
along the rhachis, but not close, and appearing almost uni- 
seriate. ; 
Spikelets near together on a flattened rhachis ath wins ...24, P. distachyum. 
Spikes reflexed, the rhachis flattened, ending in an awn-like point, 
and a rigid awn-like bristle under the lowest spikelet... ... 25. P. reversum. 
18. P. gracile. 
17. Panicum flavidum, Retz. 
Botanical name.—Flavidum, a Latin word sigmifying yellow, or 
inclining to yellow, the “ear” being usually of that colour. 
Vernacular names.—“ Vandyke Grass.” I recommend this local 
name on account of having seen the large variety in great luxuriance 
at Vandyke, beyond Springsure, Queensland. (Bailey.) ‘‘ Warrego 
Summer Grass.” 
Where figured.—Duthie, Trinius, Agricultural Gazette. 
