Australian Grasses. 53 



Sporobolus lindleyi, BentJi. (After Dr. John Lindley.) " Pretty 

 Sporo bolus." Stems tufted, 6 inches to 1 foot high, and nearly allied to 

 3. pulchellus. Leaves narrow, not at all or only very shortly eiliate. Panicle 

 very loose, broadly pyramidal, 3 to 5 inches long, and broad when fully out, 

 the branches capillary, the lower ones elongated in a dense verticil, the 

 upper ones more scattered. Spikelets ^ to f line long. Glumes very acute, 

 the lowest outer one very small and narrow ; the second also empty and the 

 flowering glume nearly equal, usually dark coloured. Palea usually divided 

 to the base into two, even at the time of flowering. Seed enclosed in a loose 

 pericarp. With regard to this grass, Mr. Benthani remarks as follows : 

 " In general this species is very distinct from S. pulchellus, both in foliage 

 and in spikelets, but some specimens of Bowman's seem almost to connect 

 the two. They are, however, far advanced, and not perfect. Mitchell's are 

 also far advanced, and not so characteristic as younger ones." 



This exceedingly pretty grass is found in all the Australian Colonies, and 

 principally on land in the interior liable to periodical inundation. It does 

 not yield a great bulk of herbage ; what there is, however, is sweet and 

 succulent, and sheep are particularly fond of it. I have occasionally seen 

 it eaten down to the roots, which is a proof that it is much sought after by 

 herbivora. Oil some of the inland plains after a heavy rainfall had taken 

 place succeeding a long spell of dry weather this grass might have been seen, 

 some years ago, springing up like cultivated wheat in spring time, but since 

 the general over-stocking of runs it has become scarce in many places where 

 once it was growing plentifully. It is a grass that is well worth conserva- 

 tion along with many other valuable species which are peculiar to the inland 

 plains of this country, and which has made them such valuable feeding 

 grounds for stock. This grass quickly recuperates, for if left undisturbed 

 for a time it produces a great amount of seed, which germinates readily 

 during the spring of the year if there should happen to be any moisture in 

 the soil. At one time the aborigines collected the seeds of this grass and 

 used them as an article of food. The seeds usually ripen in October and 

 November. 



I can recommend this grass to be cultivated for decorative purposes. It 

 is quite as pretty as many of the ornamental exotic grasses cultivated here 

 for that purpose, the seeds of which our florists have to import from Europe 

 or America. 



Reference to plate. A, Spikelet opened out, showing the three glumes, divided palea, 

 and grain. B, Showing the relative size of the outer glume on the spikelet. c, Two 

 different views of the grain. All variously magnified. 



