Australian Grasses. 43 



Panicum sanguinale, Linn. " Summer Grass." Decumbent, and often 

 shortly creeping and rooting at the base, ascending to 1 foot or rather 

 more. Leaves flaccid, flat, usually pubescent, and sprinkled with long 

 hairs especially on the sheaths, but sometimes nearly glabrous, Spikes 

 or panicle-branches three to eight, crowded at the end of a long peduncle, all 

 from nearly the same poinb or shortly distant, 1^ to 3 inches, or, in some 

 varieties, above 4 inches long ; the rhachis slender but angular, flexuose, 

 scabrous-ciliate. Spikelets in pairs, one nearly sessile, the other pedicillate, 

 oblong, rather acute, and about 1^ lines long. Outer glume minute, 

 rarely above i line long ; the second glume lanceolate, three-nerved, from 

 one-half to three-quarters the length of the spikelet ; the third glume usually 

 five-nerved, glabrous, or slightly ciliate, in the Australian specimens, empty. 

 Fruiting glume shorter, smooth. 



An annual species, which is common all over the eastern and northern 

 portions of Australia, also in many districts in the interior. The " summer 

 grass" is found also in Asia, Africa, and America. It is a creeping, quick- 

 growing grass, and a great pest in cultivated land to farmers, orchardists, 

 and gardeners. It will grow on almost any kind of soil and in any situation, 

 provided that it is not too cold. This grass produces a great amount of 

 forage in an incredibly short space of time, which, being of a succulent 

 nature, is relished by all pasture animals. In. America the " summer grass " is 

 highly spoken of, and it is said that horses are so fond of the hay made from it 

 that they leave all other fodder for it. This species produces an abundance 

 of seed, which ripens in January, February, and March. It is said that 

 Linna3iis gave the specific name " sanguinale" to this grass, from a trick that 

 the boys had in Germany of pricking one another's noses with the spikes 

 until they bled. 



In the Hortus Gramineus Wolurnensis occurs the following passage with 

 reference to this grass : " It produces much seed, of which birds are very 

 fond, and requires to be protected by nets, or otherwise, during the time of 

 ripening. The smaller birds pick out the ripe seed, even when only a small 

 quantity is formed among the blossoms. The common method of collecting 

 it and preparing it in Germany is as follows: At sunrise the seed is gathered 

 or beaten into a hair sieve from the dewy grass, spread on a sheet, and dried 

 for a fortnight in the sun ; it is then gently beaten with a wooden pestle in 

 a wooden trough or mortar, with straw laid between the seeds and the pestle, 

 till the chaff conies off ; they are then winnowed. After this, they are again put 

 into a trough or mortar in rows, with dried marigold flowers, apple and hazel 

 leaves, and pounded till they appear bright ; they are then winnowed again, 

 and being made perfectly clean by this last process, are fit for use. The 

 marigold flowers are added to give the seeds a fine colour. A bushel of seed 

 with the chaff yields only about two quarts of clean seed. When boiled 

 with milk and wine it forms an extremely palatable food, and is in general 

 made use of whole in the manner of sago, to which it is in most instances 

 preferred." 



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

 open spikelet, showing the three outer glumes, the fruiting glume, and palea. C, Showing 

 the relative size of the outer glunic on the spikelet. D, Grain, back and front views. All 

 variously magnified. 



