POLLINIA, Trin. 



(Named in honour of Cyrus Pollini.) 



SPIKELETS one-flowered, in pairs in the alternate notches of the articulate 

 rhachis of simple spikes, one sessile or shortly pedicellate, the other on a 

 longer pedicel, but the two otherwise similar; the spikes sessile and 

 clustered, or rarely solitary at the end of the common peduncle. Glumes 

 four or three, outer one the largest, membranous, awnless, with a truncate 

 toothed or ciliate tip ; second usually thinner, keeled, acute, or produced 

 into a fine straight awn, third thin and hyaline or deficient ; terminal or 

 fourth glume a twisted and bent awn, contracted and flexuose or hyaline, 

 dilated, and two-tobed at the base as in Andropogon. Palea small and 

 hyaline or none. Styles distinct. Grain enclosed in the outer glumes, and 

 free from them. 



Pollinia fulva, Bentk. (Referring to the brown-coloured inflorescence.) 

 " Sugar Grass." Stems either slender and 1 foot to If feet high, or stouter, 

 more branching at the base, and attaining 2 to 4 feet, the nodes glabrous, or 

 shortly bearded. Leaves rather narrow tapering to fine points, the orifice 

 of the sheaths and ligula usually ciliate, and sometimes the sheaths hairy. 

 Spikes 2 or 3 sessile, and near together in a terminal cluster, but not quite 

 digitate, H to 2| inches long, covered with silky hairs of a rich brown. 

 Spikelets mostly about 2 lines long, but variable in size, all similar, or the 

 pedicellate ones rather narrower. Outer glume truncate or denticulate at 

 the end, faintly nerved ; second nearly as long, narrower, slightly keeled, 

 truncate; third very minute, or more frequently entirely deficient. Awn or 

 terminal glume slender, rarely f inch long, contracted into a flexuose stipes 

 or slightly dilated at the base, hyaline and bifid. Styles very shortly united. 



A perennial grass which is Bound in all the Australian Colonies from the 

 coastal districts to the far interior. It is much more common, however, in 

 the latter than in the former portion of the continent. I have collected 

 specimens within a few miles of Sydney. It is easily recognised, when in 

 flower, amongst other grasses by its rich, brown, silky spikes. The " sugar 

 grass" is generally found growing on the richest of soils, and often on deep 

 alluvial flats bordering rivers and creeks. It is a superior pasture grass, and 

 is much praised by stockowners, who have given it the name of " sugar 

 grass," on account of the sweetness of its stems and foliage. During the 

 summer months, in an ordinary season, it produces a great bulk of rich, 

 succulent, sweet herbage, which is much relished by all herbivora. Under 

 experimental cultivation this grass produced a great amount of herbage, 

 much superior to that usually seen in pastures, and when cut just as the 

 flower-stems appeared it made excellent hay. I can highly recommend the 

 " sugar grass" for systematic conservation, and even cultivation, on good 

 land, especially in districts suited for grazing cattle. Erom its great yield 

 of herbage it ought to pay to make into ensilage, at any rate it is worth a 

 trial. It is a good grass to encourage on the banks of rivers, creeks, and 

 dams, as its strong penetrating roots Would help to bind the soil and prevent 

 it being washed away by the fury of flood-waters. "When left unmolested for 

 a time the " sugar grass" produces a fair amount of seed, which ripens in 

 November and December. 



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

 sessile and pedicellate spikclet. c, Sessile spikclet, showing the arrangement of the glumes 

 and terminal awn. D, Grain. All variously magnified. 



