38 Australian Grasses. 



Panicum gracile, E. Br. (Slender.) " Slender Panick Grass." 

 Erect, much branched towards the base, quite glabrous, usually slender, 

 from under 1 foot to above H feet high, but exceedingly variable'in stature 

 and aspect. Leaves from very narrow to rather broad. Panicle usually long 

 and slender, the branches or sessile spikes or clusters erect, distant, the 

 lower ones 3 to 4 lines, or rarely | to 1 inch long, the upper ones smaller, 

 often reduced to short clusters or to single spikelets towards the end of the 

 panicle, the rhachis of the branches often but not always produced beyond 

 the last spikelet into a point sometimes as long as the spikelet. Spikelets 

 singly sessile or in pairs, one pedicellate the other sessile along the rhachis, 

 rarely more or less distinctly in two rows almost as in P.fiavidum, ovoid, 1 line 

 to IT lines long, nearly straight, the outer glume ovate, acute, rather less or 

 more than half as long as the spikelet, the second and third nearly equal, 

 both empty, membranous, and about five-nerved. Fruiting glume as long or 

 rather longer, minutely transversely rugose. Grain enclosed in the hardened 

 fruiting glume and palea, but free from them. 



A perennial grass, found in all the Australian Colonies from the coastal 

 districts to the far interior, and is fairly plentiful in some situations. 

 As might be supposed, a grass growing under such varied conditions of 

 soil and climate as this one does is very variable as regards stature and 

 appearance. Some forms of it might readily be mistaken for the variety 

 tenuior of P. flavidum. In fact I have myself often been puzzled at first 

 sight until I examined the spikelets, when its distinctive characters can 

 at once be recognised. Mr. Bentham, writing about this grass, makes 

 the following remarks : " The variations of P. gracile are sometimes 

 so great that it is difficult to reduce all the forms to one species with- 

 out having seen the almost insensible gradations which unite them." 

 In all its varied forms, however, it is an excellent pasture-grass, which 

 stock of all descriptions are remarkably fond of, and fatten on. It does 

 not seem particular as to soil or situation, for it may often be found 

 growing on dry stony hillsides. On rich pasture-land, however, it yields a 

 very superior herbage. On poor soils and in dry situations its leaves are 

 very narrow, and in dry seasons its stems are somewhat harsh ; still, when 

 in this condition, cattle seem fond of it. On rich soils in the interior this 

 grass will withstand a phenomenal amount of dry weather, and on this 

 account it is well worth conservation in those parts where it is already 

 growing, and also dissemination in those parts of the country where it may 

 not already exist. "When allowed to grow undisturbed for a time it pro- 

 duces a fair amount of seed, which, in the interior, "will usually ripen during 

 October and November, and in the coastal districts during December and 

 January. 



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

 B, A spikelet opened out, showing the four glumes and palea. C, Showing the relative 

 size of the outer glume on the spikelet. P, Grain, back and front views. All variously 

 magnified. 



