Forage Plants of Australia. 75 



ORDER, CHENOPODIACE^B. 



KOCHIA SEDIFOLIA, F. Y. M. 

 "Blue Bush." 



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



A STOUT much-branched shrub, attaining a height from 2 to 3, or more, feet. 

 The leaves are oblong, obtuse, soft, and thick, and about i of an inch long. 

 The fruiting perianths are crowded at the end of the branches, as illus- 

 trated in the detached bunch, Figure I. At Figure II is illustrated a 

 single fruiting perianth, with the horizontial membranous wing very finely 

 veined, and spreading from to J an inch in diameter. The whole plant 

 is covered with a dense cottony wool, and its singular appearence has 

 earned for it the common name of " blue-bush" by stockmen. Its presence 

 is nearly always an indication of arid land, and on this account it has often 

 put the weary traveller on his guard, for he may not expect to find water 

 near where this plant is discovered growing. It is found in the interior of 

 New South "Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, but it is not reported to 

 be plentiful anywhere. Although it is capital forage for cattle, it is said 

 that when sheep feed too freely on it, balls of felt-like substance form in 

 their stomachs, which at times do them injury. The drought-enduring 

 qualities of this plant are remarkable, its natural covering, no doubt, pro- 

 tecting it against the fierce heat of the summer's sun and through the most 

 protracted drought. When the natural grasses are withered, or burnt up 

 during the long " spells" of dry weather, the plant affords good forage for 

 cattle, but it is often cropped down so close, that it has little chance to mature 

 seed, which is its only natural means of reproduction. When left unmolested 

 for a time, however, the plant quickly recovers, and produces seed very freely, 

 which, when ripe, germinates readily under ordinary conditions. The seeds 

 should be sown during the early autnmn months, after rainfall if possible ; 

 or, failing this, they may be sown in September or October. 



