40 



PASTURE PLANTS AND PASTURES OF N.Z. 



hairless except for about half-an-inch at the base where silky 

 hairs occur on the edges ; leaves about 12 in. high; flower 

 heads 2 feet high, producing a very narrow and long spike like 

 a rat's tail 6 inches long ; the reddish seeds escaping freely 



from the husks. This grass 

 is distinctly a weed : owing to 

 the harshness of its blades it 

 is not liked by stock, and when 

 forced to eat it sheep are found 

 to have their teeth rapidly 

 worn out. The grass is still 

 sown in some quantity on the 

 East Coast of the North Island, 

 but that is a practice that 

 should be rigorously dis- 

 couraged. 



(11) Indian Doab (Cynodon 

 dactylon). This weed is also 

 called Bermuda Grass. It is 

 common in the warmer parts 

 of the South Island and all 

 over the North occurring as a 



Fig. 2lA Indian Doab. 



weed of pastures and roadsides, as well as being purposely 

 included in lawns. It is perennial, deep-rooting, drought 

 resisting, and has long rhizomes or stolons that root pro- 

 fusely. Leaves about 1 inch long but sometimes up to 



