GG 



The causes which have brought this about are discussed mdre 

 fully later, but here it may be stated that it is almost cer- 

 tainly the result, at any rate to a large extent, of man's 

 interference. IK purpurea is a very low growing species, 

 rarely more than an inch or two high, and it may be easily 

 recognised by its long ciliate leaf margins. It has rather 

 deep roots, and the growth form is somewhat spreading with 

 numerous, densely leafy innovation shoots. The leaves are 

 somewhat succulent, and altogether it is peculiarly adapted 

 to growing over the surface of hard-baked clay soils. Its 

 morphology is fully illustrated in Fig. 9. 



Fig. 10. — Transverse Section of a leaf of Banthonia purpurea (x about 120.) 



Though in general appearance D. purpurea is a very 

 xerophytic plant, farmers are agreed that it is also a very 

 nutritious species. The Veld where this grass is dominant is 

 said to be capable of carrying one sheep per acre, which is 

 at least twice as much as most other types of Grassveld. It 

 stands both frost and drought, and the possibility of its culti- 

 vation is worth investigating;. It is interesting in this con- 

 nection to note that, according to -J. H. Maiden, 1 in Australia 

 Da'nthonia penicillata, the widely diffused Silver grass or 

 Wallaby grass, is one of the best fodder grasses, while D. 

 robusta, a coarse species is the best fattening grass on the 

 Mount Kosciusko plateau. The detailed structure of the leaf 

 of 77. purpurea is shown in Fig. 10. The leaf is permanently 



1. Maiden, J. H. " Australian Vegetation " in the Handbook for 

 Australia (Brit. Assoc.) 1914. 



