8 Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 



ASTEEBLA PECTINATA, F.v.M. 



" Mitchell grass." 



A perennial sjpecies, growing from l^ to 3 feet high. On rich chocolate 

 soils it grows into large tussocks, and produces a great amount of rich 

 succulent herbage, which is much relished by all herbivora. Pastoralists in 

 the western districts speak very highly of this grass, both for its drought- 

 enduring qualities and its fattening properties. In dry seasons, when other 

 feed is scarce, cattle may often be seen licking the broken parts of this 

 grass from the ground, and they seem to fatten on it, even when it is in a 

 verv dry state. Although its natural habitat is purely western, it will grow 

 equally as well in the coastal districts. This I have proved by cultivating 

 it on the eastern side of the Dividing Eange. The thick, wiry roots of this 

 grass penetrate the ground to a great depth, which enables the plant to 

 withstand the most protracted drought, and for this reason it is a most 

 valuable standby for the pastoralist. An experienced drover once told me that 

 stock would travel further and keep in better condition when fed on this than 

 on any other grass in Australia. When cut just as the flower spikes appear 

 it makes excellent hay, and if left growing a little longer would make good 

 ensilage. The seeds of this grass, when ripe, are like small grains of wheat, 

 and at one time they formed an article of food to the aborigines. The seeds 

 ripen in November and December. 



ASTEEBLA TEITICOIDES, F.v.M. 



" Mitchell grass." 



[Flora Austr., vol. VII, p. 602 : An erect glaucous grass, very near A. 

 pectinata, the leaves more or less scabrous or ciliate on the edges ; spikes 3 

 to 6 inches long ; spikelets alternate, not closely imbricate, and often almost 

 erect and at some distance from each other. Outer empty glumes usually 

 very unequal, the lowest short, the second four or five lines long. Flowering 

 glumes shorter, the lateral lobes shorter and more rigid than in A. pectinata, 

 and the awn much exceeding them, the dorsal hairs appressed and silky. 

 Eeference to plate : A, spikelet ; B, floret ; C, grain, back and front views, 

 variously enlarged. See frontispiece. 



A perennial grass, usually a taller growing plant than the last species, and 

 the flower spikes are often more than 6 inches long. On rich soils it produces 

 a great amount of rich herbage which stock of all kinds are remarkably fond 

 of. Cattle will fatten 011 this grass even when it is much dried up, during 

 drought time. If it is cut when it first shows signs of flowering it will 

 make excellent hay, and if left a little longer should make good ensilage. I 

 have had this grass under cultivation and can thoroughly recommend it to 

 be sown for permanent pasture either in the coastal or western districts. 

 Before it is sown in the former place, however, the land must be thoroughly 

 drained, if not naturally so situated, for this grass is very impatient of too 

 much moisture. The seeds when ripe are like small grains of wheat, and at 

 one time formed an important article of food to the aborigines. There is a 

 variety of this grass called lappace.a (Danthoiiia lappacea, of Lindley), which I 

 have often recommended to be cultivated for the grain it yields. These grains 

 are like small grains of wheat, and they separate most easily from the chaff. 

 The ears (which are often more than 6 inches in length) are like large 

 wheat ears, and where the latter would not grow, owing to great climatic 

 heat, the former might, after a few years of careful cultivation and selection, 

 be found an excellent substitute. The grain of this grass was at one time 

 largely used by the aborigines as an article of food. This species and its 

 variety ripen their seeds during October, November, and December. 



