16 Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 



DIPLACHNE FUSCA, Beauv. 



" Brown-flowered swamp grass." 



A glabrous annual species, growing from 2 to 3 feet high. In the coastal 

 districts it is generally found in brackish swamps ; in the interior in shallow 

 pools of water, or in damp situations. During the summer months it affords 

 a rich succulent herbage, greedily devoured by cattle. This grass is worth 

 disseminating in swampy land, where hardly anything else would grow, as it 

 would afford a valuable lot of herbage during a long spell of dry weather, 

 when the surrounding country was dried up. This species produces a quan- 

 tity of seed, which ripens during January, February, and March, on swampy 

 land, but in drier places it generally ripens in November. 



DIPLACHNE LOLIIFOEMIS, F.v.M. 



"Eye-like grass." 



A slender-erect annual (?) species, and when found growing in the western 

 districts it rarely exceeds 8 inches in height, but some specimens I received 

 from Albury were over a foot high. It is generally found growing 011 light 

 sandy soils, but it is not of much value for forage. Sheep will occasionally 

 eat it, but cattle often pull it out of the ground when grazing where it 

 grows, as its roots take such a slight hold of the ground. Produces plenty 

 of seed, which ripens in October. 



DISTICHLIS MAEITIMA, Efn. 

 "A sea-side couch grass." 



A dwarf creeping species, valuable only for binding loose sand and 

 embankments near the sea. Found on the southern parts of the sea coast. 

 It can be propagated by division of its roots. 



ECHINOPOGON OVATUS, Beauv. 



" Eough-bearded grass." 



A rough-leaved grass, growing from 1 foot to 2 feet high. It is generally 

 found on poor soils and on hill-sides in the coastal districts, from Illawarra 

 to the Tweed, also in New England. This grass affords a fair amount of 

 herbage during the winter and early spring months, which, however, is 

 wanting in nutrition. Cattle will occasionally browse upon it when other 

 feed is scarce. It does not improve very much under cultivation. It is an 

 annual, and seeds in September and October. 



ECTEOSIA LEPOEINA, E. Br. 



"Hare's-tail grass." 



A glabrous, slender, perennial species, growing from 2 to 2i feet high. 

 It is only found in the north-western portions of the Colony, but it is not 

 plentiful anywhere. The roots of this grass penetrate deeply into the soil, 

 which enables it to withstand the most protracted drought. In the early 

 stages of its growth it yields a rich succulent herbage, which is much relished 

 by all herbivora. When it becomes old, however, the stems are rather dry 

 and wiry, and sheep will seldom touch it if other herbage is plentiful. This 

 grass is well worth disseminating on our arid plains, for it will thrive on the 

 driest of soils. If left unmolested for a time it produces a great quantity of 

 seed, which ripens in October and November. This species has a panicle 

 from 3 to 6 inches long, with purplish spikelets, and long slender awns, 



