52 Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER, CHENOPODIACE^]. 



CHENOPODIUM AIJEICOMUM, LINDL. 

 " Blue-bush." 



Flora Austr., Vol. F, p, 159. 



AN erect-growing perennial plant of from 3 to 5 feet, and more or less 

 mealy-white or hoary all over. The leaves are ovate or oblong, very obtuse, 

 with prominent basal lobes, from 1 inch to 2 inches long, and are arranged 

 on rather long stalks. The flowers are arranged in little dense globular 

 clusters along the branches of a terminal panicle, sometimes distinct and 

 rather distant, sometimes crowded into dense spikes. At Figure I is illus- 

 trated an enlarged drawing of the fruit partly enclosed in the five-lobed 

 perianth. The blue-bush is found in the arid interior of this continent, from 

 the Darling River in New South Wales to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the 

 north ; but in no place does it appear to be plentiful. Its drought-enduring 

 qualities are remarkable, and it will continue to grow in the most adverse 

 seasons of drought and great heat. The plant is easily recognised by its 

 mealy whiteness, and sometimes almost golden hue ; hence its specific name. 

 Pastoralists speak very highly of it for its nutritive and wholesome qualities, 

 and many regrets are often expressed that the plant is becoming so scarce 

 on our central plains. It is a valuable pasture plant, which stock of 

 all kinds are remarkably fond of, and they often crop its rich succulent 

 stems down so close to the ground that it has little chance to recuperate or 

 mature seed for its natural reproduction, and there is a danger of it 

 becoming extinct on some "runs," especially those that are heavily stocked. 

 Besides its value as a pasture plant, the leaves and young shoots can be 

 gathered and cooked as spinach, for which they make an excellent substitute. 

 This fact should be noted by persons who live in the interior, for, with very 

 little expense, a succulent esculent could be depended upon by cultivating 

 this plant in the driest of seasons, and when it would be practically 

 impossible to cultivate the ordinary kitchen-garden vegetables. When the 

 plant is left undisturbed for a time it will produce an abundance of seed, 

 which germinates readily under ordinary conditions, so that there will be no 

 great outlay required to enter upon a system of cultivation, either as a 

 garden esculent or for forage purposes. A 30-acre paddock, ploughed and 

 harrowed and sown down with this plant, would in a few months yield a 

 phenomenal amount of rich succulent herbage, from which daily cuttings 

 might be made, even in the most adverse times. Some such system will 

 have to be carried out if pastoralists intend to save their flocks and herds 

 from starvation, which now occurs during every recurring drought, and the 

 sooner this fact is realised and acted upon, not only will pastoralists be more 

 wealthy, but it will add materially to the resources of the country in the 

 greater yield of wool and beef which could be exported. 



The seeds of this plant should be sown during the early autumn months, 

 after there is a sufficient rainfall to make the ground moist; or, failing this, 

 they may be sown in September or October. The plant will also strike from 

 cuttings made of the half -ripened wood, and put in in the ordinary way. 

 The best time of the year to plant the cuttings is after rainfall in the 

 autumn months. They should be put in where it is intended the plants are 

 to grow, G feet apart in the rows, and the rows G feet apart. 



