Census of the Grasses of New South Wales. 47 



TEIODIA MITCHELL!!, Benth. 



" Porcupine grass." 



A perennial species, generally growing 4 to 5 feet high, which is only found 

 in the arid interior. Like the last species, it has long rigid round sharp- 

 pointed leaves, which are troublesome and often dangerous to man and 

 beast. It is of no value whatever for forage, although the young growths 

 that are made after a bush-fire are occasionally eaten by stock. When in 

 flower, this is really a rather handsome looking grass, and any one seeing it 

 for the first time in flower, is very much disappointed on a closer acquaintance 

 with it. This grass produces a fair amount of seed, which ripens in the 

 autumn months. 



TBIEAPHIS MICEODON, Benth. 



An erect glabrous grass of 2 or 3 feet high, which is generally found on the 

 Blue Mountains, but it does not appear to be plentiful anywhere. It is of 

 little value, however, for forage, as its herbage is both harsh and scanty. 

 This grass produces a fair amount of seed, which ripens during the autumn 

 months. 



TEIEAPHIS MOLLIS, E. Br. 



" Purple-headed grass." 



A slender perennial species, growing from 2 to 3 feet high, which is generally 

 found all over the interior, and in some situations it is fairly plentiful. It 

 is a capital drought-resisting species, and during the early summer months 

 yields a fair amount of good herbage which sheep are fond of. "When the plant 

 becomes old, however, the stems get very hard and wiry ; then stock seldom 

 or never touch it. This grass produces a rather dense panicle, often 10 inches 

 long and of a purplish colour, which gives the plant a very ornamental 

 appearance. It might be introduced into gardens, where it would be very 

 effective. The seed ripens in November and December. There is a variety 

 of this grass (var. kumilis), which rarely exceeds 6 inches in height and has a 

 panicle of only 2 or 3 inches. It is a somewhat uncommon grass, generally 

 growing on sandy soil, and not of much value for forage. This delicate little 

 grass might be introduced into gardens, where its charming purple panicles 

 would be sure to be admired. This variety seeds in October and November. 



TEISETUM SUBSPICATUM, Beauv. 



" Spiked-oat grass." 



A tufted perennial species, varying in height from 6 inches to above 2 feet, 

 which is only found in the southern portions of the Colony, principally on the 

 Muniong and other mountains. In some situations it is fairly plentiful, 

 and is regarded as a good forage grass for sheep. It is well worthy of 

 dissemination in the very cold parts of the Colony, for very few grasses can 

 live where this one will flourish. It produces a fair amount of seed,^which 

 ripens in February and March. Hooker says of it, in his Antarctic Flora 

 " Few grasses have so wide a range as this, nor am I acquainted with $ any 

 other Arctic species which is equally an inhabitant of the opposite polar regions. 

 In Europe it is found at a very great elevation on the Alps and Pyrenees, as- 

 also in Lapland. In Asia it frequents the Altai Eange, the northern parts 

 of Siberia and Kamschatka, from whence it crosses to Kotzebue's Sound, and 

 is apparently more generally distributed through Arctic America (than in the 

 Old World), from the utmost limits of polar vegetation in Melville Island, 

 throughout Greenland, and the Arctic Islands, the Arctic Sea Coast, Labrador, 

 Canada, and the Eocky Mountains." 



