Australian Grasses. 29 



is languishing for want of rain it affords very good herbage. At the first 

 glance this rather harsh, wiry-looking grass would not impress anyone as 

 being a valuable forage-plant ; nevertheless it is a fact that cattle eat it 

 greedily, and it is said that horses will leave all other herbage to browse upon 

 its stems and leaves. I received some specimens of this grass from Victoria 

 a short time ago for identification, and it was stated that some Victorian pas- 

 toralists spoke highly of it, both as a good grass for stock and as a suitable 

 one to encourage on moist lands. From long observation of the "mat-grass" 

 I can recommend ft for planting on moist undrained lands where it may not 

 already be growing, and also on the banks of rivers or dams, where its strong 

 underground roots would soon form a perfect mat which could not be easily 

 dislodged by flood-waters or heavy rains. It will bear several degress of 

 frost and submersion for a few days without much injury. There would be 

 no difficulty in bringing this grass under systematic cultivation, for not only 

 does it produce plenty of seed, which germinates readily if sown in the 

 spring of the year, but it can be easily propagated by division of its stems 

 and roots in spring. The seeds of this grass usually ripen during the 

 summer and autumn months. 



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

 opened out. B, A pedicellate spikelet, dorsal view, c, A pedicellate spikelet, open, 

 side view. D, Outer glume of a sessile spikelet, dorsal view. E, A sessile spikelet, open, 

 side view. F, Grain, back and front views. All variously magnified. 



