54 Forage Plants of Australia. 



OEDER CHENOPODIACE.E. 



OHENOPODIUM CAKINATUM, E. BE. 



" Rough-leaved G-oosefoot." 



Flora Austr., Vol. V,p. 162. 



AN annual plant, with much branched stems, ascending to 1 foot or more in 

 height. The lower leaves are coarsely toothed, and from to 1 inch long, 

 the upper ones much reduced. The flowers are small and arranged in dense 

 globular clusters in almost all the leaf axils, the upper ones forming inter- 

 rupted, more or less, leafy spikes, as shown in the engraving. At Figure I 

 is illustrated an enlarged drawing of the fruit, which is partly enclosed in 

 the five-lobed perianth. This plant has a wide geographical range, being 

 found in Queensland, New South Wales, Yictoria, South Australia, and 

 "Western Australia, from the coastal districts to the arid interior, and in 

 some situations it is fairly plentiful ; but this may be accounted for by the 

 great amount of seed the plant will produce when left undisturbed for a 

 time, and the seed germinating readily even under adverse conditions. It 

 generally starts into growth in November and December, and continues 

 growing until April, when it gradually dies away. The plant will grow 

 during very dry weather, and, whilst young, affords a tender herbage which 

 sheep will eat, although it is said that cattle and horses do not eat it whilst 

 other herbage is plentiful. This may be accounted for by its having some- 

 what rough leaves and stems. 



