55 
Other uses.—It forms a dense turf under trees, possessing a con- 
siderable value for such a purpose in cases where it can get sufficient 
moisture. It is a common weed in bush-houses. 
Habitat and range.—Victoria to Queensland, in the moister parts. 
In our Colony, confined to the Coast districts. Found also in Asia and 
the Pacific Islands, and New Zealand. 
2. Oplismenus setarius, Roem. et Schult. 
Botanical name.—Setarius—Latin, seta, a bristle, resembling Setaria 
(the next genus). 
Synonyms.—O. compositus, var. setarius, according to Mueller. 
Panicum imbecille, Trin. 
Vernacular name.—“< Creeping Beard-grass.”’ 
Where figured.—Trinius and Buchanan, as Panicum imbecille. 
Botanical description (B. Fl., vu., 492).— 
Very near the slender forms of O. compositus, and perhaps rightly included in that 
species by F. Mueller. 
Spikes or branches of the panicle all reduced to single sessile clusters of spikelets, or 
the lowest rarely slightly elongated into two distinct clusters. 
Leaves always narrow lanceolate. 
Value as a fodder—Same as the preceding. Lamson-Scribner 
speaks of it as having no recognised agricultural value. Buchanan 
states that cattle eat it readily, but pomts out that their relish for it 
must be considerably lessened by the large amount of foreign matter, 
such as dead leaves, with which it is usually associated. 
Other uses.—This grass also grows under the dense shade of trees, 
and hence is very valuable for planting in such situations. It is, 
therefore, of use for ornamental purposes, but it must have moisture. 
“Tt can be propagated by pieces of the stem, which root at the joints, 
and if cared for, will ina short time make a good turf. A closely- 
allied grass of similar habit and growth, with variegated leaves 
(O. Burmanni, Beauy.), is often grown in green-houses for its orna- 
mental appearance.” (Lamson-Scribner.) 
Habitat and range.—Same as the preceding species. 
5. SETARIA. 
Spikelets with one terminal hermaphrodite flower and sometimes a 
second male one below it, crowded in a cylindrical dense or rarely 
interrupted spikelike panicle, not awned, but surrounded by numerous 
awnlike barren branches, persistent on the main rhachis, the spikelets 
sessile near the base of th branches, and falling away from them. 
Glumes four, the outer one small, the second usually shorter than 
the third; a palea, and sometimes three stamens in the axil of the 
third. 
Terminal or fruiting glume of a firmer consistence, transversely 
rugose, with a perfect flower. 
Styles distinct. 
