46 Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 



STIPA SETACEA. 



" Spear grass." " Corkscrew grass." 



A rather coarse perennial species, growing from 1 foot to nearly 3 feet nigh, 

 which is generally found on good soils all over the Colony, and in some places 

 very abundant. It is an excellent pasture grass, whilst the herbage is young j 

 but, like several other of its congeners, the herbage gets too harsh and wiry 

 when old. This grass should be burnt off annually, which destroys both the 

 coarse foliage and the dangerous seed awns. After this is done, the pasture 

 becomes very healthy, and the herbage is nutritious. The drought-resisting 

 qualities of this grass are something remarkable, and often during very dry 

 seasons it has proved a good stand-by for stock. The panicles of this grass 

 are often 10 inches long and they bear numerous seeds, the rigid awns of 

 which are often more than 2 inches long. The barb-pointed seeds of this 

 grass are very injurious to sheep, often causing the death of numbers, by 

 first becoming attached to the wool, then worldng through the skin, and 

 often penetrating the vitals. The seeds ripen in November, December, and 

 January. 



STIPA TUCKEEII, F.v.M. 



" Brown plumed spear, grass." 



A slender perennial species, with rather long branching stems, and only 

 found in scrubby country in the interior. It is not such a strong growing 

 grass as Stipa eleyantissima. but it grows under somewhat similar circum- 

 stances. The elegant plumose panicles of this grass are of a rich brown colour. 

 This species is well worthy of introduction into gardens. It is occasionally 

 eaten by stock, and its seed awns are not injurious to sheep or cattle. The 

 seeds ripen in October and November. 



TETEAEEHENA JUNCEA, E. Br. 



" Scrambling grass." 



A perennial grass, with long slender branching stems, often scrambling 

 over bushes to the height of 8 or 12 feet. It is a very rare species in New 

 South Wales. I found it at Mossman's Bay a few years ago, which was 

 then thought to be its only habitat in the Colony, but quite recently Dr. 

 "Woolls informs me it has been found at the National Park. Since the 

 foregoing was put into type I have also found it at the last mentioned place. 

 This grass is of no value as a pasture plant ; but it is of interest to the 

 botanist, from the fact that each floret has four stamens. Its seeds ripen 

 during the autumn months. 



TEIODIA IEEITANS, E. Br. 



" Porcupine grass." 



A perennial species, with long rigid round sharp-pointed leaves, and only 

 found in the arid interior, and fortunately not very plentiful anywhere in this 

 Colony. This grass grows between 3 and 4 feet high, and generally on poor 

 sandy soil. It is one of the troublesome prickly grasses of the desert. In 

 letters I have received, with specimens of this grass sent me for identification, 

 it was stated " that it has not increased for twenty years," so that it is not a 

 very formidable enemy to vanquish. This grass does not produce much seed. 



