12 Australian Grasses. 



ASTEEBLA, F. v. M. 



(Eeferring to the awu being untwisted.) 



SPIKELETS few-flowered, sessile or nearly so in the alternate notches of the 

 continuous rhachis of one or two simple secund spikes, the rhachis of the 

 spikelet articulate above the two outer glumes. Outer empty glumes two, 

 glabrous, acute, many -nerved, unawned. "Flowering glumes silky-hairy, three- 

 lobed, the central lobe with a broad base tapering into a straight or curved 

 not twisted awn, the lateral lobes erect, rigid, two or three nerved. Palea 

 with two prominent ciliate nerves or keels. Styles distinct, very short. In 

 the three species the spikes are usually single, very rarely two together at 

 the end of the peduncle. 



Astrebla pectinata, F. v. M. (Referring to the comb-like spike.) 

 " Mitchell Grass." An erect glaucous grass of 1 to 3 feet, glabrous, except 

 sometimes a few hairs at the orifice of the sheaths. Leaves flat, ending in 

 long points, smooth or scarcely scabrous. Spikelets sessile in the alternate 

 notches of a secund spike of 2 to 3 inches, closely imbricate and turned to 

 one side. Outer glumes 4 to 5 lines long, glabrous, acute, nine or eleven 

 nerved, with scarious margins. Flowering glumes three or four, the entire 

 part scarcely 1 line long, densely villous outside, as well as the broad base of 

 the middle lobe ; lateral lobes semi-lanceolate, glabrous, rigid, 4 to 5 lines 

 long, acute, two or three nerved, with the outer margin broadly scarious ; 

 central lobe broad, ovate, concave, keeled, tapering into a slender straight 

 awn about as long as, or rather longer, than the lateral lobes. Bhachis of the 

 spikelet articulate only above the outer glumes, very hairy between the 

 flowering ones, continued and less hairy above the perfect flowers, with one 

 or two glabrous glumes and paless empty or with rudimentary flowers. 



This is one of the famous "Mitchell grasses" which some pastoralists and 

 stockmen in the interior regard as the best of all native grasses, both for its 

 drought-enduring qualities and for its fattening properties. On rich, 

 chocolate soils this perennial grass grows into large tussocks, and in ordinary 

 seasons will yield a great amount of rich, succulent herbage, which is much 

 relished by all herbivora. Its thick wiry roots penetrate the earth to a great 

 depth, which enable the plant to withstand the most protracted drought, and 

 for this reason it is a most valuable stand-by for the pastoralist during 

 adverse times. "When the grass becomes so dry, during a long period of 

 drought, that the stems and leaves break to pieces stock may be seen licking 

 them off the ground, and they seem to fatten on this feed notwithstanding 

 its uninviting appearance. An experienced drover once told me that stock 

 would travel further and keep in better condition when fed on this than on 

 any other grass in Australia. Although its natural habitat is 011 the central 

 plains of the continent it will grow equally as well in the coastal districts 



