6 Australian Grasses. 



Andropogon lachnatherus, Senth. (Keferring to the hairy inflorescence.) 

 " Hairy Blue Grass." Stems rather slender, erect, about 2 feet high. Leaves 

 narrow, glabrous or sprinkled with long hairs. Nodes not bearded. Panicle 

 looser than in A. refract us, with slender but not very long branches, solitary 

 or clustered, within sheathing bracts, or floral leaves. Peduncles exceeding 

 the last sheathings bracts, bearing each two spikes, but not digitate, one 

 attached lower down than the other, each -} to -f- of an inch long without the 

 awns. Sessile spikelets three or four, the lowest sometimes containing only 

 a male flower, the others with a hermaphrodite flower, 2 to 2|- lines long, 

 slightly hairy. Outer glume obtuse, about nine-nerved ; second rather 

 shorter, obtuse, three-nerved ; third very narrow, thin, and hyaline ; awn or 

 terminal glume on a short filiform base, 1 inch to 2 inches long, the lower 

 part rigid and hirsute with rufous hairs. Pedicellate spikelets narrow, acute, 

 2|- to 3 lines long, usually containing a male flower, the outer glume many- 

 nerved, often produced into a fine point. Grain enclosed in the glumes of 

 the sessile spikelet, but free from them. 



This perennial grass is found in the coastal districts of New South Wales 

 and Queensland, but only in the northern portion of the former Colony. It 

 is generally found growing on low-lying, rich soils, but I have occasionally 

 seen it growing on dry stony ridges. On the former class of soils, however, 

 it yields a greater bulk of herbage, which is generally of a more succulent 

 nature. During the early summer, and often in the autumn months, it 

 produces herbage, of which, when young, all herbivora seem very fond. 

 When the stems become old, however, they are generally harsh, and when 

 in that state stock will seldom or never eat them if other succulent 

 herbage is plentiful. I have seen the " hairy blue grass " growing in places 

 from which cattle for a time were excluded, atid there the herbage was much 

 superior to that seen in ordinary pastures. This led me to believe that the 

 grass could be improved under cultivation. In the northern coastal districts 

 it is worth encouraging in pastures where dairy cows are allowed to graze. 

 Under ordinary conditions the grass produces plenty of seed, which usually 

 ripens in November and December ; but in a good season I have seen the 

 seeds ripen throughout the summer months, and until as late as May. 



Reference to plate. A, Showing tlie two spikes and sheathing bract. B, The terminal 

 fertile sessile spikelet between two pedicellate male spikelets. c, Sessile spikelet opened out, 

 showing the three glumes and terminal awn. D, Grain, back and front views. All 

 variously magnified. The awn is shortened at B and C. 



