Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 27 



places it is fairly plentiful. It produces a great quantity of coarse herbage, 

 and during the early summer months is much relished by stock. "When^it 

 becomes old, however, it is hard and cane-like ; then stock seldom or never 

 touch it. If burnt off annually in October or November it yields a quantity of 

 herbage during the rest of the summer. This grass produces a fair amount 

 of seed, which ripens in November, December, and January. 



LEPTUEUS CYLINDEICUS, Trin. 



" Salt marsh grass." 



A tufted or slightly branching annual grass, rarely ever exceeding 1 foot 

 in height. It is generally found on salt marshes in the southern parts of the 

 Colony, but nowhere very plentiful. It is of little value, however, either for 

 forage or for forming a sward in salt marshes. It does not perfect much 

 seed ; what little there is, however, ripens in January and February. 



LEPTUEUS INCUEYATUS, Trin. 



" Salt marsh grass." 



^ A tufted or branching annual species, usually about 6 inches, but some- 

 times nearly a foot high. It is found growing on salt marshes near the 

 Parramatta Eiver and in the southern coastal districts, but nowhere very 

 plentifully. It is of very little value for any purpose. This grass does not 

 produce much seed ; what little there is, however, ripens in January and 

 February. 



MICEOI^ENA STIPOIDES, E. Br. 



" Meadow rice grass." 



An erect-growing perennial species, generally found in the coastal dis- 

 tricts, but also on the Blue Mountains, and in New England. It usually grows 

 from 1 foot to 2, but occasionally may be seen 3 feet high. The stems rise 

 from a rather thick rhizome, and the roots penetrate deeply into the soil, 

 which enables the plant to withstand a very long spell of dry weather. It 

 is a most superior pasture grass, and in some situations will grow all the year 

 round. It may easily be recognised during the winter and early spring 

 months by the vivid green appearance of its foliage, which, in an ordinary 

 season, it will retain throughout the summer. This grass produces a rich, 

 succulent herbage, which is greedily sought after by all herbivora. If cut 

 when the flower stems first appear, it makes excellent hay. This grass is much 

 improved by cultivating it on good soils, and even during an ordinary season 

 will produce a bulk of herbage that is quite astonishing. I can highly re- 

 commend this grass for permanent pasture (even under close feeding it will 

 maintain a close turf), or for hay. There would be no difficulty in bringing 

 this grass under cultivation, for in ordinary circumstances it produces a 

 great amount of seed, which ripens in November and December. 



Baron von Mueller and L. Eummell give the following chemical analysis 

 made on the spring growth of this grass : Albumen, 1'66 ; gluten, 9*13 ; 

 starch, T64 ; gum, 3*25 ; sugar, 5'05 per cent. 



NEUEACHNE ALOPECUEOIDES, E. Br. 



" Mulga grass." 



A perennial species, usually growing from 1 foot to li feet high, and 

 generally found in the south-western parts of the Colony, but not very plenti- 

 fully. During the summer months it produces a fair amount of herbage which 



