Australian Grasses. 33 



NEUEACHNE, E. JSr. 



(From neuron, a nerve, and achne, a covering; in allusion to the hairs on 

 the nerves of the glumes.) 



SPIKELETS with one terminal hermaphrodite flower, and very rarely a second 

 male one below it, sessile along the continuous rhachis of a simple ovoid or 

 cylindrical spike. Glumes four, the second the largest, fringed on each side, 

 at least in the lower half, with long spreading cilia on the mtramarginal 

 nerve ; third glume smaller and thinner, usually with a small palea in its 

 axil. Fruiting glume smaller, thin, and often hyaline. The palea also very 

 thin, as long as or longer than the glume. Styles distinct. Grain enclosed 

 in the thin palea and glume, but free from them. 



Neurachne mitchelliana, Nees. (After Sir Thomas Mitchell.) "Mulga 

 Grass." Stems from a knotty woolly branching base erect, leafy to the 

 inflorescence, or nearly so. Leaves flat, short, spreading, ciliate with a few 

 long hairs, or the lower ones woolly-hairy. Spike narrow-cylindrical, 1 

 inch to nearly 2 inches long. Spikelets about 2 lines long, with a tuft 

 of hairs at their base. Outer glume as long as the others, many-nerved, 

 ciliate, marked in the centre on the back with a transverse callosity, bearing 

 long rigid horizontally spreading hairs, with a broad cavity underneath it, 

 very thin and almost hyaline, bordered by a prominent nerve on each side ; 

 second glume broad to above the middle, pubescent on the back, and densely 

 fringed on each side by long spreading hairs, the upper part narrow, and 

 glabrous, or nearly so ; third glume shorter, thin, faintly nerved, and not 

 ciliate, either empty or enclosing a small palea. Fruiting glume and palea 

 thin and almost hyaline. 



A perennial species, which rarely exceeds 1 foot in height. It is found 

 in all the Australian Colonies, but is peculiar to the far interior. It w T as 

 collected in Central Australia by the Elder Exploring Expedition, but is 

 not reported to be very abundant anywhere. Its stems rise from a thick 

 woolly rhizome, which probably acts as a storage reservoir to the plant in 

 very dry weather, for it will withstand, and remain green throughout, a very 

 severe drought even when growing on rather poor soil. It is generally 

 found growing in what is termed " mulga country," that is, where the "mulga 

 tree" (Acaca aneura) is the predominant vegetation, hence stockmen call it 

 "mulga grass." It is a general favourite amongst pastoralists in the interior, 

 and it can nearly always be depended upon to yield a fair amount of herbage 

 during early springtime, of which sheep are very fond. It is well worth 

 disseminating all over the arid interior where it does not already exist, and 

 also on dry, sandy land. It might be conserved with advantage to supply 

 feed during dry seasons. When allowed to grow undisturbed for a time the 

 " mulga grass " produces a fair amount of seed, which usually ripens during 

 October, November, and December, according to the season. 



Reference to plate. A, Open spikelct, showing the four glumes, and the very thin palea. 

 B, Outer glume, c, Second glume, v, Back and front views of the grain. All variously 

 magnified. 



