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17. Eriachne mucronata, R. Br. 
Botanical names.—Mucronata—Latin, sharp-pointed (mucronate), 
the flowering glumes being tipped with short points. 
Botanical description (B. F1., vu, 6382).— 
Stems very slender, but rigid ; about 1 foot high. 
Leaves short, spreading, subulate, with fine points, but not so pungent as in Z. 
seleranthoides, the lower sheaths sprinkled with rigid hairs, or glabrous, the 
upper ones distant. 
Panicle rather loose, 1 to 1} inches long, of few spikelets, closely resembling those 
of Z. obtusa, but rather larger; and the 
Flowering glumes tipped with short points exceeding the outer glumes. 
Value as a fodder—Not known. 
Habitat and range.—Found in South Australia, New South Wales, 
and Queensland. An interior species. 
18. Eriachne obtusa, R. Br. 
Botanical names.—Obtusa—Latin, blunt, or obtuse, referring to the 
appearance of the spikelets when in fruit. 
Where figured.—Agriculiural Gazette. 
Botanical description (B. F1., vii, 632).—A variable grass, usually 1 
to 2 feet high, often branched in the lower part. 
Leaves narrow, flat, or subulate, glabrous, or the lower sheaths sprinkled with rigid 
hairs. 
Panicle loose, sometimes much-branched and 4 inches long, sometimes almost reduced 
to a raceme of half a dozen spikelets. 
Spikelets ovoid, about 2 lines long, appearing acute when young, assuming the obtuse 
aspect when in fruit. 
Outer glumes membranous, acute, with fewer nerves than in most species (usually five), 
sprinkled on the back and ciliate with a few long hairs, rarely quite glabrous. 
Flowering glumes about as long, more obtuse, rarely with a minute point, densely 
ciliate to the top, and sprinkled on the back with spreading hairs. 
Palea entire, slightly hairy. 
Grain much flattened. 
Value as a fodder—* A fairly good pasture-grass, suitable for sheep ; 
it is variable as to height, but generally branches much from the base, 
and before seeding makes a good leafy bottom.” (Bailey.) 
Habitat and range.—Found in all the Colonies, exeept Tasmania and 
Victoria. Believed to be exclusively an interior species until recently 
discovered in the Port Jackson district. 
Sub-tribe iv.—Festucacee. 
82. Ectrosia. 92. Poa. 
85. Phragmites. 95. Schedonorus. 
86. Distichlis. 94. Glyceria. 
87. Elytrophorus. 96. Bromus. 
91. Eragrostis. 98. Festuca. 
82. ECTROSIA. 
Spikelets with one or rarely two fertile flowers, and two or more 
male flowers or empty glumes above them, in a terminal panicle; the 
rhachis of the spikelet articulate above the two outer glumes. 
