Census of the Grasses of Neiv South Wales. 7 



AEISTIDA VAGANS. 



" Three-awned spear grass." 



A slender, perennial, much-branched species found principally on poor 

 stony rises in the coastal districts. It is quite common near Eookwood, and 

 a short way out from North Sydney. During the winter and early spring 

 months it makes a fair amount of leafy bottom, which affords some forage 

 for stock ere many of our indigenous grasses start into growth. The awns 

 of this species are much shorter, and consequently less troublesome than 

 most of the other species of the genus. Seeds ripen during October and 

 November. 



AETHEAXON CILIAEE, Beauv. 

 " Swamp grass." 



A perennial straggling species, with much-branched stems, sometimes 

 rising a foot high. The leaves of this grass are nearly ovate in outline, and 

 about 1| inches long. It is usually found growing in or near swamps, and, 

 as far as it is at present known, only in the New England district in this 

 Colony. It can hardly be classed as a valuable forage grass on account of 

 its rarity, although cattle may occasionally be seen wading in the water to 

 browse upon it. This grass does not produce much seed ; whatever little 

 there is, however, ripens in January. 



AEUNDINELLA NEPALENSIS, Trin. 



"Nepal grass." 



A tall, glabrous, perennial species, in the warmer portions of the Colony 

 attaining a height of 6 to 8 feet. In the cooler parts, however, it rarely 

 exceeds half that height, and I have had specimens from near "Windsor only 

 a foot high. As might be supposed in such a variable grass as this one is, 

 the forage it yields is not always of the same nature, when grown in different 

 districts. In the colder parts of the Colony it is generally of a harsh nature, 

 but in the warmer districts it yields capital forage, much relished by cattle. 

 Under cultivation it is much improved, and if cut directly it shows its 

 flowering stems it makes capital hay. The seeds ripen in November, 

 December, and January. 



ASTEEBLA ELYMOIDES, Bail, et E.v.M. 

 "Mitchell grass." 



A perennial species, of rather straggling habit, which, until quite recently, 

 was only known to grow in the "Warrego district of Queensland. A short 

 time ago I had specimens sent for identification from our North-western 

 districts. This grass has undoubtedly escaped the observation of many 

 collectors, from the fact that the flower spikes often lie prostrate on the 

 ground. It is a most excellent forage grass, and is held in great esteem 

 amongst stock owners. Its thick, wiry roots penetrate the ground to a great 

 depth, which enables the plant to withstand the most protracted drought. 

 It is one of those grasses that sprout prolifically from every joint, when 

 there is a slight rainfall after a long spell of dry weather. The seeds of 

 this grass are like small grains of wheat, which at one time were used by 

 the aborigines as an article of food. The seeds ripen in November and 

 'December. 



