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Value as a fodder.—A very abundant annual grass, nearly always in 
growth, and readily eaten by stock of all kinds. Mr. A. R. Crawford, 
in the following note, draws attention to the perfume of this grass. I 
have not observed it myself, but Mr. Crawford is a careful observer :— 
“Citron-like perfume. In the morning, when the dew begins to dry 
off, the scent is very noticeable; in the heat of the day there is a 
strong perfume, but quite different from that of the morning. The 
scent is given forth lke that from a flower. Rubbimg between the 
fingers makes no difference, as with Chrysopogon parviflorus. It is 
unfortunate that the scent of the Hragrostis, strong when the plant is 
growing, fades at once when it is cut.’”” We have so few records of 
odours emitted by grasses, and particularly by Hvragrostis, that the 
following is interesting :—‘ H. multiflora, Forsk, or ‘Stink Grass,’ is 
coarse and weedy, and has such a disagreeable odour when fresh that 
animals do not relish it. This odour disappears on drying.” (South 
Dakota Bulletin, No. 40). 
“ H. pilosa is relished by buffaloes. Mr. Symonds says that cattle 
eat it readily, and that it would make good hay. Mr. Lowrie tells me 
that at Ajmere it is considered to be a good fodder grass.” (Duthie.) 
Other uses.—It is really a beautiful grass, and well worthy of culti- 
vation -for ornamental purposes. The Seeds are used for food in 
Ajmere, India, according to Duthie. ‘ H. abyssinnica, Link., is an 
important food-plant in Abyssinia. ‘The various-coloured seeds have 
the appearance of grits, and the flour made from these is baked into 
bread. This grass is probably a cultivated form of H. pilosa.” 
(Hackel.) 
Habitat and range.-—Found in all the Colonies except Tasmania. 
Widely diffused in New South Wales. In India, usually m damp or 
swampy ground, according to Duthie. 
A common weed in the warmer and some temperate regions of the 
northern hemisphere, chiefly in the Old World. 
8. Eragrostis leptostachya, Steud. 
Botanical name.—Leptostachya—Greek, leptos, slender ; stachys, an 
ear of corn, the inflorescence being slender. 
Vernacular name.— Slender Spiked-grass.” 
Where figured.—Agricultural Gazette. 
Botanical description (B. Fl., vu, 645).— 
Stems slender, usually about | ft. high. 
Leaves at the base narrow, convolute or setaceous, glabrous. 
Panicle loosely pyramidal, 3 to 5 inches long, with slender divided spreading branches. 
Spikelets on capillary pedicels of 1 to 3 lines, loosely spreading, about 2 lines long, 
narrow, but much broader than in FH. pilosa, much smaller than in 4. Brownit, 
loosely six-to ten-flowered, usually dark-coloured. 
Glumes acute, more spreading than in JZ. pilosa, the lateral nerves faint and almost 
marginal. 
Palea nearly as long, glabrous. 
Grain ovoid, smooth. 
Value as a fodder.—A grass much of the same character as the pre- 
ceding, and yielding tender feed for stock. 
