109 



It is sometimes not easy to distinguish, this species from A. ramosa. 



Value as a fodder. " In some places this grass affords good 

 pasture, growing through the year and forming a good leafy bottom. 

 The awns of this species are shorter and less troublesome than some 

 others of the genus." (Bailey). 



' ' Found with A. calycina, which it somewhat resembles, but it is a 

 superior pasture kind." (Mueller.) 



At the same time it is an inferior grass, wiry, and providing but 

 little nutriment for stock under the most favourable circumstances. 

 It is one of the best of the Aristidas, but no Australian member of 

 the genus is worth conserving as a fodder plant. 



'Habitat and range. It is found in Victoria and Queensland, and 

 also extends from south to north of our Colony, in the coast districts 

 and table-lands. It prefers dry rocky situations. 



7. Aristida ramosa, R.Br. 



Botanical name. Ramosa Latin, full of branches, in allusion to the 

 inflorescence. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 563). 



Very nearly allied to A. calycina, and almost intermediate between that and A. 

 vagans. 



Panicle narrow, with erect or scarcely spreading branches, and the outer glumes as 

 long as the flowering ones or nearly so, as in A. calycina, but the spikelets much 

 smaller, the glumes scarcely above 3 lines, and the awns under ^-inch long. 



Value as a fodder. A dry wiry grass, and sometimes very tough and 

 full of fibre. During the winter months affording some pasture, but 

 in summer bearing too much seed and flower-stalks to be of much use 

 as feed. 



Habitat and range. Found in South Australia, Queensland, and 

 New South Wales. In our Colony it occurs in the coast districts and 

 tablelands, its most southern locality appearing to be the Clyde- 

 Braidwood district. In the western districts it has been sparingly 

 recorded as far west as the Darling Eiver. It is also found in New 

 Guinea. 



8. Aristida calycina, R.Br. 



Botanical name. Calycina Latin, adjective from calyx a cup (in 

 Botany, calyx), hence, having a prominent calyx or outer glumes (as 

 regards the present species). 



Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 563). 

 Stems tufted, erect, 1 to 2 feet high. 

 Leaves very narrow, mostly subulate. 



Panicle narrow, often above 6 inches long, with few short erect branches, rarely at 

 length spreading, each bearing one or two, or the lower ones several, but few 

 sessile or shortly pedicellate spikelets. 



Spikelets in the typical form 4 to 5 lines long without the awns. 

 Outer glumes with fine points, the second as long as or longer than the flowering 



glume. 



Awns slender, sessile, f to 1^ inches long. 

 Palea rather long. 



Value as a fodder. Usually a very dry coarse grass, rarely afford- 

 ing a bite to stock. Its sharp awns are very injurious to sheep. 



