6 Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 



seed it is of a dry, wiry, nature, and the seed awns adhere to the palates and 

 throats of the animals eating them. The awns and barbed seeds not only 

 injure the wool, but often penetrate the skins, and reach the vital parts of 

 the animals. This grass seeds in October and November. 



AEISTIDA BEHEIANA, F.v.M. 



" Three-awned spear grass." 



A perennial species, usually growing about 1 J- feet high ; of a similar 

 character to the last species ; found in the western interior. Seeds in 

 November and December. 



AEISTIDA CALYCINA, E. Br. 



" Three-awned spear grass." 



A perennial species, growing from I foot to 2-| feet high. Pound principally 

 on the sand-hills of the interior. It is only eaten by stock during a scarcity 

 of other herbage. The seeds, with their adherent awns, are injurious to 

 wool, and troublesome to the eyes of sheep. It is a grass, however, that 

 improves under cultivation, for the plant loses much of the rigidity common 

 to uncultivated ones. The seeds ripen during November and December. 



AEISTIDA DEPEESSA/Eetz. 



" Three-awned spear grass." 



A perennial species, generally found growing on rich soils, but of too 

 harsh a nature to be of much value for forage. Like the rest of the species 

 of this genus, the seeds, with their adherent awns, are very troublesome to 

 sheep. Seeds ripen in October and November. 



AEISTIDA LEPTOPODA, Benth. 

 " Three-awned spear grass." 



A perennial species, found on rich soils in the interior, where it generally 

 grows about 2^ feet high. Whilst young, it affords a capital forage for 

 stock, but when it becomes old, is of a dry, wiry nature, and seldom eaten. 

 It is a grass, however, that much improves by cultivation, and loses a great 

 deal of the natural harshness common to uncultivated ones. The seeds and 

 adherent awns are very troublesome to sheep. Seeds during November and 

 December. 



AEISTIDA EAMOSA, E. Br. 



" Three-awned spear grass." 



A perennial species, found both on rich and poor soils, generally over a 

 greater portion of the Colony. Not of much value for forage, and, like the 

 rest of the species of the genus, the seeds, with their adherent awns, are 

 very troublesome to sheep. Seeds in October and November. 



AEISTIDA STIPOIDES, E. Br. 



" Three-awned spear grass." 



A perennial species, found on poor soils and sand ridges in the interior, 

 where it generally grows from 1 foot to 2 feet high. It is the worst of all the 

 species for forage, as most of the plant is occupied by its inflorescence. 

 The seed awns are very long, and most troublesome, both to wool and 

 the animals' eyes. It ripens its seeds in November. 



