Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 37 



Andropogron Halepensis, Sibthorp.* (Sorghum Halepensc, Persoon.) 



Southern Europe, warmer parts of Asia, Northern Africa. 

 Praised already by Theophrastos more than 2,000 years ago. Not 

 easily repressed in moist ground. A rich perennial grass, culti- 

 vated often under the name of Cuba-grass and Johnson-grass. All 

 the vernacular names, given to this grass, should be discontinued 

 in maintaining the very appropriate original appellation "Haleppo- 

 grass." It keeps green in the heat of summer [J. L. Dow] ; is not 

 eaten out by pasture-animals [Hollingsworth] ; it will also grow 

 in drift-sand of the coast, and will keep growing during the dry 

 .season, when most other grasses fail, but improves much on irri- 

 gation ; the roots resist some frost ; three tons can be cut from one 

 acre in a single season ; it yields so large a hay-crop, that it may 

 be cut half a dozen times in a season, should the land be rich. All 

 kinds of stock have a predilection for this grass. It will mat the 

 soil with its deep and spreading roots ; hence it should be kept from 

 cultivated fields. Detrimental to Lucerne on meadows [Rev. Dr. 

 Woolls]. In Victoria hardy up to 2,000 feet elevation. 



Andropogron involutus, Steudel. 



From Nepal to China. The " Sabe " or " Bhabar " or "Bhaib- 

 Grrass." Used for the manufacture of ropes, string-matting and 

 other textile articles : approaches Esparto in the quality of its 

 fibres ; perennial ; grows readily on dry soil [Dr. Hance]. Dr. 

 W. Thiselton Dyer has shown, that a particular fibre, alluded to by 

 Royle and some subsequent writers as emanating from Eriopho- 

 rum comosum (Wallich) in Upper India, is derived from this 

 Andropogon, both plants growing there promiscuously. 



Andropog;on Xschaemum, Linne. 



Southern Europe, Southern Asia, Africa. One of the fittest of 

 grasses for hot dry sand-regions, and of most ready spontaneous 

 dispersion. Perennial. Succeeds well on lime-soil and that con- 

 taining gypsum. In its new annual upgrowth it is particularly 

 liked by sheep. It needs burning off in autumn. 



Andropogron Xvarancusa, Blane. 



Southern Asia and Tropical Africa, The well known root is of 

 aronratic taste with some bitterness. The plant is nearest allied to 

 A. laniger (Desfontaines) according to Hackel. 



Andropogron montanus, Roxburgh. 



Southern Asia, Northern and Eastern Australia. Rapid in 

 growth and valuable for fodder when young ; resists fire better 

 than many other grasses [Holmes]. Seeds freely [F. Turner], 

 Perennial, like most other species of this large genus. 



