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Var. latifolia, Benth.—Very tall and luxuriant, with flat leaves, 
often 2 to 4 lines broad. Illawarra and Australian Alps; also in a 
mountain range in Southern Queensland. 
‘““The only Queensland habitat of this variety at present known is 
on the rich land upon the top of Mount Mistake. There it grows 
3 to 4 feet high, very leafy and succulent, and would probably under 
cultivation be profitable for cutting as green food for stock.” (Bailey.) 
The following grass may very probably be referred to var. latifolia :— 
“ Poa australis. Broad-leaved meadow grass; perennial; flowers in 
December; average height at time of flowering 3 feet, growing 
sometimes to 6 feet ; leaves smooth, flat, and very long. ‘Thrives on 
rich soil, in high, cold, and dry situations. A nice tender grass when 
young, but it soon grows into larger tussocks than any other grass we 
have. The herbage is of little value when suffered to grow old. If 
grazed or cut down close every year it would afford a good supply of 
valuable winter food.” (Bacchus.) 
2. Var. levis, Benth.—Leaves, when most characteristic, rigid, 
erect, terete, smooth and shining, and the panicle contracted ; but in 
many specimens the leaves more slender and sometimes filiform as in 
the var. australis, but always quite smooth, the stem then taller, and 
the panicle more diffuse ; glumes usually about 1} lines long. From 
all the Colonies except Queensland, and perhaps that Colony also. 
“ Poa australis ; var. levis.—An extremely variable grass, which has 
received different names by authors. It is not surprising, therefore, 
under such circumstances, that various estimates have been made of 
its value as food for stock, according to which variety prevailed in any 
district, some of the varieties being much more valuable than others. 
There is no doubt but that the true value of the larger tussock grasses, 
among which the present occupies a prominent place, has been much 
under-estimated, as they have never been treated fairly on their merits, 
and conclusions based on the readiness with which stock eat or refuse 
them cannot be accepted as a criterion of their value, unless they are 
cut down when in flower and treated as fodder. Itis well known that 
even the most favourite grasses of cultivation, such as Loliwm perenne, 
the common rye grass, if left uncut till the seed is shed will be refused 
by all kinds of stock; and so it is with the present species, which 
should always be treated as a fodder plant.” (Buchanan.) 
3. Var. affinis, Benth—Leaves very narrow, but often flat, as m 
the var. plebeia, but the panicle more diffuse, with more numerous 
smaller spikelets ; the glumes usually under 1} lines long. 
One of the commonest forms in the eastern Colonies, but passing 
much into the smooth P. australis and into P. levis. 
This grass is perhaps referred to by Bacchus in his notes on Poa 
australis. 
4, Var. australis, Benth.—Leaves mostly radical, setaceous, much 
shorter than the stem, erect, and exceedingly scabrous. Stems under 
1 foot high, with a very loose spreading, rather small panicle. Glumes 
1 to 13 lines long. 
In Tasmania very abundant as above described. In Victoria and 
New South Wales the radical leaves are generally longer, and the 
