Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 325 



forming extensive cushions. It keeps beautifully green throughout 

 the year, affords a sufficiently tender blade for feed, and is exquis- 

 itely adapted to cover silt or bare slopes on banks of ponds or 

 rivers, where it grows grandly ; moderate submersion does not 

 destroy it, but frost injuries it ; it thrives well also on salt-marshes. 

 The chemical analysis made in spring gave the following results : 

 Albumen 2'20, gluten 771, starch 1'56, gum T64, sugar o'OO 

 (F. v. Mueller and L. Rummel). 



Paspalum laeve, Michaux. 



Southern States of North- America. Perennial. Prof. Phares 

 states, that for successive years two tons of hay of this meadow- 

 grass can be mown from an acre, it almost never seeding when 

 regularly cut. 



Paspalum lentlg-inosum, Fresl. 



Southern States of North-America and Mexico. Spreads by 

 runners and forms a close turf [Dr. Yasey]. P. Floridanum 

 (Michaux) of the same region is a tall species of vigorous growth. 

 P. purpurascens (Elliot) is leafy and succulent, and roots at the 

 lower joints. 



Paspalum notatum, Fluegge.* 



From Virginia to Argentina. This is one of the best of fodder- 

 grasses there, forming a dense, soft, carpet-like sward on meadows, 

 and becoming particularly luxuriant and nutritious on somewhat 

 saline soil [Lorentz]. Closely cognate to P. distichum. P. ovatum 

 (Torrey) is probably a variety of P. notatum. It is known as 

 Alabama-grass. Hardy, perennial, relished by stock. Highly 

 spoken of in the Southern States of North America on account of 

 its drought-resisting property [Hon. J. L. Dow]. Dr. Yasey 

 recommends it as one of the very best pasture-grasses of Alabama, 

 Louisiana and Texas. 



Paspalum platycaule, Poiret. (P. compressum, Presl.) 



Warmer regions of North- and South-America, extending north- 

 ward to Alabama. A nutritive pasture-grass, particularly eligible 

 for sandy coast-lands [C. Mohr]. The creeping stems become 

 closely matted [Dr. Yasey]. 



Paspalum scrobiculatum. Linn.'. 



Through the tropics of the eastern hemisphere widely dispersed, 

 extending to South-Eastern Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia 

 also. A valuable pasture-grass, which will grow on poor land, also 

 on swampy ground. A superior variety is cultivated in India for a 

 grain-crop. This grass furnishes a good ingredient for hay. Its 

 stem sometimes attains a height of 8 feet. Rosenthal pronounces 

 it pernicious, perhaps when long and exclusive use is made of this 

 grass, or possibly when diseased through fungus -growth. In hot 

 climes it can become a troublesome intruder on plantations. 



