42 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Andropogon muricatus, Retzius. (A. squarrosus, Linn fil.) 



India. The "Vitivert" or " Kus-kus." A grass of delightful 

 fragrance. According to Surgeon-Major Dr. G-. King, the odorous 

 Indian mats are made of this grass, and according to Prof. Lindley, 

 awnings, tatties, covers for palanquins and screens are manufactured 

 from this species ; also an essence is distilled from it. 



Andropogon muticus, Steudel. (Ischaemum muticum, Linn6. ) 



South-Asia, Polynesia, North-East Australia. A large grass, 

 rooting from the joints. Pronounced by Mr. H. N. Ridley as un- 

 questionably the best native fodder-grass of the Malay-peninsula. 

 He adds as also very good there : A. ciliaris (Trinius) and A. 

 Timorensis (Steudel.) 



Andropogon Nardus, Linn6. (A. Martini, Thwaites.) 



From Southern Asia to Northern Australia, also in tropical and 

 sub-tropical Africa, but in different varieties. Perennial. One of the 

 lemon-scented species. Prof. Hackel suggests, that A. Calamus may 

 be referable to this species. Kunth unites with this A. citriodorus 

 (De Caudolle), the A. citratus of many botanic gardens, while Link 

 referred this grass to A. Schoenanthus. It yields an essential oil for 

 condiment and perfumery, and is occasionally used for tea. Sim- 

 monds gives the export-value of this oil as from Ceylon alone- at 

 7,000. " Citrionella " Oil to the extent of 40,000 Ibs. annually is 

 in Ceylon distilled from this grass [PiesseJ. Endures the winters of 

 Port Phillip [S. C. Kiernander]. A. procerus (B. Brown) is the 

 Lemon-grass of North- Western Australia ; it attains a height of 9 

 feet. A. exaltatus (R. Brown) is also scented ; it acts as a sudorific 

 and stimulant and proved refreshing in fever. 



Andropogon nutans, Linn6. (Sorghum nutans, Gray). 



Eastern North America. A tall, nutritious, perennial grass, con- 

 tent with dry and barren soil, too poor for still better grasses. 



Andropogon nutans, Linn. (Sorghum avenaceum, Willdenow.) 



Northern and Central America. This tall perennial grass lives in 

 dry sandy soil, and should be tried for growth of fodder. 



Andropogon pertusus, Willdenow. 



Southern Asia, Tropical and Sub-tropical Australia. Perennial. 

 Mr. Nixon, of Benalla, regards it as one of the best grasses to with- 

 stand long droughts, while it will bear any amount of feeding. It 

 endures cold better than some other Andropogons of Queensland, 

 according to Mr. Bailey's observations. Though not so palatable to 

 pasture-animals as some other grasses, this one is important for the 

 summer-season, when many others fail in the arid interior. This 

 species with A. sericeus and some other congeners only of inferior 

 value where the best English grasses can be grown, and even apt to 

 strangle them. 



