74 Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER CHENOPODIACE^G. 



KOCHIA PLANIFOLIA, F. v. M. 



" Broad- Winged Salt-bush." 



Flora Austr., Vol. V, p. 187. 



A Drv'ABiCATELT-BEAJrcHED shrub, growing from 2 to 3, or more, feet high. 

 The branches and young foliage are covered with a soft and dense woolly 

 tomentum which wears off from the older leaves. The leaves are oblong, 

 obtuse, arranged on short stalks, and rarely more than % an inch long, rather 

 thick, but flat. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils. At Figure I is illustrated 

 the fruiting perianth, which is glabrous or tomentose ; the ring generally 

 entire, membranous, and about % an inch in diameter. This shrub is found 

 in the most arid parts of the Continent, but principally in the central por- 

 tion. It was not found until quite recently in New South "Wales, and I was 

 the first to record it, having received some specimens from the Barrier Ranges. 

 It is not reported to be plentiful anywhere, for pasture animals are remark- 

 ably fond of it, and often eat it so close down to the ground that it is 

 found in a stunted condition. When left undisturbed for a time, however, 

 it produces an abundance of seed which, when ripe, germinates readily under 

 ordinary conditions. This valuable salinous plant will withstand a phenomenal 

 amount of dry weather, and it is well worthy of extensive conservation, or 

 even cultivation, in the arid parts of the Continent ; for it could always be 

 depended upon during the most adverse seasons of drought and heat to supply 

 a rich, succulent herbage which might be the means of saving thousands of 

 animals from dying of starvation during every recurring drought. Unless 

 the conservation or the cultivation of this and many other valuable salinous 

 plants is taken in hand in a systematic manner, pastoralists must be prepared 

 to lose a great number of their stock during adverse times when forage is 

 scarce. A 500-acre paddock, reserved for the conservation or even cultivation 

 of salt-bushes on a station, would produce a great amount of forage which 

 would be available when most needed, and it could be cut as requirements 

 might demand. I would recommend reserves to be made oblong shaped, and 

 not too near, together, this would obviate cattle or sheep mustering in such 

 numbers too close together during dry times. 



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

 and if possible after rainfall, then they will germinate quickly. 



