Forage Plants of Australia. 79 



ORDER CHENOPODIACE^ 



KOCHIA BKACHYPTEKA, F. y. M. 

 " Short-winged Saltbusli." 



Flora Austr., Vol. V,p. 189. 



A PEOSTBATE undershrub, but often with slightly ascending branches, 

 spreading from 1 foot to 2 feet. Its branches, as well as the foliage, are 

 clothed with long soft-spreading hairs, which give the plant a peculiar 

 appearance. The leaves are alternate, linear, sessile, and about % an inch 

 long. The perianths are small, solitary, and arranged in the leaf axils. 



Figure 1 is an enlarged drawing of the fruiting perianth, which has five 

 vertical wings, and is bordered by an exceedingly narrow, thick, horizontal, 

 five-angled wing. The angles are very acute, being 'the small points of the 

 vertical wings, as shown in the engraving. 



This plant is found principally in the interior of Queensland, jS"ew South 

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

 at any of the stations I have received specimens from. The drought- 

 enduring qualities of the plant are remarkable, for it does not seem to be 

 affected either by the hot winds that blow periodically over the plains, or the 

 fierce heat of the summer's sun. This in a great measure may be accounted 

 for by its long roots penetrating the soil to a great depth, and its prostrate 

 habit, which not only keeps the ground cool, but prevents the too rapid 

 evaporation of any moisture which may be in the soil. Sheep are not as 

 particularly fond of this plant as they are of many of the allied species ; 

 though it is one of our famous salinous plants. They will pass it for other 

 herbage ; but it is a capital forage plant which other herbivora eat down 

 with a relish. The plant produces a moderate quantity of seed when left 

 unmolested, and the seeds, when ripe, germinate readily under ordinary con- 

 ditions. They should be sown after rainfall in the early autumn months. 



