Australian Grasses. 21 



DICHELACHNE, Endl. 



(From two Greek words signifying a "cloven hoof" and " chaff," in allusion 

 to the bifid palea or gluine.) 



SPIKELETS one-flowered, numerous in a narrow usually dense panicle ; the 

 rhachis of the spikelet articulate immediately above the two outer glumes, 

 and not continued beyond the flower. Glumes three, narrow, the two outer 

 ones persistent, membranous, acute, keeled. Flowering glume raised on a 

 short hairy stipes (rhachis of the spikelet), membranous at the time of 

 flowering, hyaline and entire or two-lobed at the end, with a fine scarcely 

 twisted dorsal awn a little below the end, slightly hardened round the fruit. 

 Palea two -nerved. Stamens three or fewer; anthers glabrous. Styles dis- 

 tinct. Grain enclosed in the glume and palea, but free from them. 



Dichelachne crinita, HooJc. (Hairy), "Long Hair-plume Grass." Stems 

 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves flat, glabrous or softly pubescent, the upper ones 

 rather long with long sheaths. Panicle very dense and spikelike, 4 to 8 

 inches long ; the spikelets imbricate on the short erect branches, but con- 

 cealed by the numerous long hair-like awns. Outer glumes very narrow, 

 hyaline with a slightly scabrous keel, nearly equal, about 2-|- lines long. 

 Flowering glumes shorter, glabrous, the hyaline tip entire but readily split- 

 ting. Awn dorsal, very slender, bent but scarcely twisted, above 1 inch long. 



A perennial grass, which is found in all the Australian colonies, but prin- 

 cipally in the coastal districts and colder parts of the continent. According 

 to Hooker, it is abundant throughout the island of Tasmania. It is fairly 

 plentiful in many parts of Australia, and may be found growing on various 

 soils. On good land I have often seen this grass growing nearly 4 feet high. 

 When in flower it is a prominent feature in the pastures, and it may be 

 easily recognised by its long panicles of flowers with purple hairy-like awns. 

 In the hot, dry districts this grass is often harsh and somewhat scanty of 

 foliage, but in the more humid districts its character is changed for the better. 

 On good soils near the coabt and in the colder parts of the continent it pro- 

 duces a great amount of rich succulent herbage, which is greedily eaten by 

 all herbivora. The " long hair-plume grass " will continue to grow throughout 

 the year on good pasture-land that is fairly well sheltered, and where frosts 

 are not too severe. It is a good grass for the dairy-farmer, and if cut when 

 the flower-stems first appear it can be made into excellent hay. It is worth 

 conservation in those parts of the country where it may already be growing, 

 and dissemination in places in the coastal and colder portions of the conti- 

 nent where it may not already exist. It is a prolific seed-bearing grass, so 

 that there will be no difficulty in collecting any quantity of seed by those 

 desirous of so doing, either in* the railway reserves or in specially -reserved 

 areas. The seeds usually ripen during October, November, and December. 



Reference to plate. \, Spikelet. B, Floret. C, Grain, back and front views. All variously 

 magnified. 



