.Australian Grasses*^**" 39 



Panicum leucophoeum, H. B. et K. (Referring to the silvery and 

 purplish hairs on the spikelets.) " Cotton-grass." Stems from a branching 

 base 1 foot to 2 feet high. Leaves narrow, long or short, usually glabrous. 

 Panicle of a few long, slender, and erect spikelike branches, very unequal, 

 and sometimes reduced to two nearly equal ones, or to a single one, the 

 longest 3 to 4 inches or in some very lax Queensland specimens 5 inches 

 loDg ; secondary branches short, slender, erect, the lower ones with four or 

 five sessile or pedicellate spikelets, the upper ones with only one or two. 

 Spikelets scarcely \\ lines long, rather acute, densely covered with long, 

 silky, silvery, or purple hairs, often spreading when in fruit. Outer glume 

 scarcely \ line long, obtuse ; second and third glumes nearly equal and 

 empty, both densely hairy ; the second usually three-nerved ; the third five- 

 nerved. Fruiting glume shorter, smooth, rather acute, and often slightly 

 gibbous at the base. Grain enclosed in the hardened fruiting glume and 

 palea, but free from them. 



This perennial grass is found all over Australia, from the coast to the far 

 interior. It appears to be much more abundant, however, in the latter than 

 in the former portion of the continent. According to Mr. Bentham this 

 species is also found in tropical Africa and America. As might be supposed, 

 a grass growing under such varied conditions of soil and climate has de- 

 veloped into many forms. It appears to be most variable in" the degree of 

 development of its inflorescence. I have received specimens for identification 

 with the panicles composed of seven or eight spikelike branches, others with 

 two branches only, and a few secondary short ones ; others again with only 

 a simple spike. The latter specimens belong to the variety monostachyum, 

 and are found only, as far as I am aware, in the far interior. Both the 

 typical form and the variety were collected in West Australia by the Elder 

 Exploring Expedition. This grass is easily recognised in pastures when in. 

 flower by its spikelets being densely covered with long, silky, silvery, or 

 purple hairs, which give it quite an ornamental appearance. It is generally 

 found growing on rich, chocolate soils in the interior, and in such situations, 

 in a good season, it will often attain a height of 3 feet. In all its varied 

 forms it is a valuable pasture-grass, and during an ordinary season it will 

 yield a quantity of rich herbage which is much relished by stock of all kinds. 

 I can recommend it for general pasture, or to be grown and made into hay. 

 I have had this species under experimental cultivation for several consecutive 

 years, and it proved a very prolific grass. When cut as the flower-stalks 

 first appeared it made excellent hay, of which horses were very fond. When 

 the grass is allowed to grow undisturbed for a time it produces a great 

 amount of seed, which usually ripens in November and December, but 

 occasionally in the autumn months. 



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

 Showing the relative size of the outer glume on the spikelet. C, A spikelet opened out, 

 showing the four glumes and palea. D, Grain back and front views. All rariously 

 magnified. 



