Australian Grasses. 



Andropogon intermedius, ~R. Br. (Intermediate between two other 

 species.) A "Blue Grass." An erect grass of 2 feet or more, with the 

 narrow leaves and general habit of A. isch&mum, the nodes varying with or 

 without beards. Spikes slender, 1 inch to 1| inches long, usually numerous, all 

 shortly pedicellate in an oblong terminal panicle of 3 to 6 inches without 

 sheathing bracts, the common rhachis glabrous, and always more or less 

 elongated, the pedicels and base of the sessile spikelets more or less ciliate. 

 Spikelets under two lines long, narrow and acute, or scarcely obtuse, and 

 often purplish, as in A. isclicemum. Outer glume often, but not always, 

 even in the same spike, marked with a dorsal pit, as in A. pertusus. Awn 

 small and slender. Pedicellate spikelet more developed than in A. ischamum, 

 and often enclosing a male flower. Grain enclosed in the glumes of the 

 sessile spikelet, but free from them. 



This strong-growing perennial grass is found in all the Australian colonies, 

 both in the coastal districts and some distance into the interior ; and in some 

 places it is very plentiful. This may be accounted for by the fact that it 

 produces, under ordinary circumstances, an abundance of seed, which, when 

 ripe, germinates readily when there is moisture in the soil, either ill the 

 spring or autumn months. It is generally found growing on low-lying, rich 

 soils, bordering rivers or creeks, or on land that is liable to periodical 

 inundations. I have collected the plant, however, on soils of quite an 

 opposite character. During the summer, and often till late in the autumn 

 months, in a good season, this grass yields a great quantity of coarse herbage, 

 which, however, is readily eaten by cattle. It is a good grass to encourage 

 in pastures where dairy cows are kept, and from its great yield it would 

 probably pay to cultivate for ensilage at least, it is well worth a trial. 

 There would be no difficulty in bringing the "blue grass" under systematic 

 cultivation, to be cut for green feed, or for ensilage, as plenty of seed could 

 be gathered at the proper time of the year from a small reserved area. The 

 seeds usually ripen in December, but in a good season they will continue to 

 ripen during the summer months, and often till late in the autumn. 



Some specimens of this grass which I recently received for identification were 

 thought to belong to a new species. I think the mistake arose from the fact 

 that Mr. Bentham, in the Nora Australiensis^ describes the panicle, most 

 probably from not very well developed specimens, as only from 3 to 4 inches 

 long. Mr. F. M. Bailey, Colonial Botanist, Queensland, in his synopsis of 

 the Queensland flora, however, describes the panicle as being from 3 to 6 

 inches long. I have not only collected many specimens of this grass with 

 panicles 6 inches long, but I have received such for identification. The 

 dorsal pit in the flowering glume is not to be depended upon as a means to 

 identification. I have examined a number of specimens collected in New 

 South Wales and Queensland from which the pits in the flowering glumes 

 were entirely absent. Mr. Bailey's remarks bearing on this matter are 

 worth quoting. He says : " The length of the panicle varies much even in 

 the same field, so do the dorsal pits ; at times these are altogether absent. 

 This is frequently the case with the plants near Brisbane." 



Reference to plate. A, Showing the arrangement of the spikelets on the rhachis. B, The 

 sessile and pedicellate spikelets. c, Sessile spikelet opened out, showing the three glumes 

 and terminal awn. D, Grain, back and front views. All variously magnified. 



