44 Australian Grasses. 



PAPPOPHORUM, Schrel. 



(The plumose awns on the flowering glumes resembling the pappus 

 (hairy tufts) on some fruits of Composites.) 



SPIKELETS with one hermaphrodite flower, and one or more male or rudi- 

 mentary flowers or empty glumes above it, in a short dense and spike-like or 

 narrow and loose panicle ; the rhachis of the spikelet articulate above the 

 outer glumes, and hairy round the flowering glume. Outer glumes mem- 

 branous, many-nerved, awnless, as long as the spikelet. Flowering glume 

 broad, membranous, with nine, or in species not Australian, more nerves 

 produced into more or less plumose awns. Palea two-nerved, as long as the 

 glume, or longer. Styles distinct. Grain enclosed in the glume and palea, 

 and free from them. 



Pappophorum nigricans, R. Br. (Inflorescence often of a dark colour.) 

 " Black Heads " Stems from under 1 foot to 1% feet high. Leaves flat or 

 convolute, usually narrow, sometimes quite setaceous, glabrous, pubescent, 

 or villous ; the nodes glabrous or bearded. Panicle dense and spike-like, 

 varying from ovoid-oblong, and under half an inch long, to narrow cylin- 

 drical and 3 inches long, or broader, more branched, and 2 to 3 inches 

 long, but always dense, pale or dark-coloured. Outer glumes varying 

 from 1 line to rather above 2 lines long, obtuse or acute, striate with 

 usually seven or nine nerves, but sometimes, especially on the lowest 

 glume, reduced to five and two of those short. Flowering glume not 

 above 1 line long, more or less hairy outside, especially at the base, 

 with nine fine spreading plumose awns, varying from the length of the 

 glume to twice as long. Above the flowering glume, and enclosed in it, is 

 usually a similar smaller one, with a male or rudimentary flower, and one or 

 two still smaller empty ones. 



This perennial grass is found in all the Australian Colonies, from the 

 coastal districts to the far interior, and in many pastures forms a good 

 percentage of the herbage. As ifc grows under such varied conditions of soil 

 and climate, it is not remarkable that there are many forms of it. Some- 

 times the inflorescence is perfectly black, which circumstance led to the 

 specific name nigricans being given to it. At other times it is almost white, 

 but this grass can never be mistaken under careful examination. In all its 

 varied forms, however, it is a capital drought-resisting grass, and during the 

 summer months, in an ordinary season, it yields a fair amount of good 

 herbage, which, stock eat with avidity, and fatten on. When the stems of 

 this grass become old they often become very hard, and the foliage harsh, 

 and in that state, if other herbage is plentiful, stock seldom eat it. 



The " black heads" is well worth conservation in those parts of the country 

 where it may already be growing, and redisseminating in those parts where 

 it may have been eaten out through overstocking. As it produces an abun- 

 dance of seed when allowed to grow undisturbed for a time, there would be 

 no difficulty in collecting any quantity from a reserved area for these pur- 



Eoses. The seeds usually ripen during October, November, and December, 

 ome forms of this grass are very ornamental, and are worth the attention of 

 horticulturists. 



Reference to plate. A, Spikelet. B, A spikelet with the outer glumes taken away, 

 showing the flowering glume and a similar smaller one, with a male or rudimentary flower 

 above that, c, Flowering glume and palea. D, Grain, back and front views. All yariously 

 magnified. 



