119 



Value as a fodder. A widely diffused, ornamental grass, affording- 

 a large bulk of fodder readily eaten by stock. " It is a valuable grass, 

 and forms, when in flower, a prominent feature in pasture. As a 

 pasture grass, when grown under favourable circumstances on rich 

 valley bottoms with perennial moisture, it is very succulent, but when 

 on dry clay hills, it is harsh and scanty ; its nutrient qualities may be 

 admitted, forming, as it does, a large constituent of pastures famous 

 for fattening stock. As a fodder grass it possesses considerable bulk, 

 and would add much value to a mixed crop of hay." (Buchanan.) 

 et In favourable that is, rather dry situations, this grass grows over 

 3 feet high, standing the heat well. It is an excellent pasture grass, 

 thrives well with Kangaroo-grass, and flowers about the same time. 

 The two make excellent hay, or if grazed, a very fattening mixture." 

 (Bacchus.) 



Other uses. Dodge quotes Mueller as stating' that this species 

 yields a tenacious paper, especially fit for thin wrapping or packing 

 paper. He adds that it is not unlikely to make fair printing paper 

 and the less costly kinds of writing and tissue paper. 



Habitat and range. Found in all the Colonies, including New 

 Zealand. In New South Wales it occurs from the coast to the table- 

 land. 



2. Dichelacline sciurea, IIook. 3 f. 



Botanical name. Sciurea Latin, sciurus, a squirrel, the panicle, 

 with its long hair-like awns, being thought to resemble the tail of a 

 .squirrel in appearance. 



Synonym. Stipa micrantha, Cav., in the opinion of Mueller (Census) f 

 but not of Bentham. 



Vernacular name. (( Short-hair Plume-grass/* 



Where figured. Hooker, Fl. Tasmania; Buchanan; Agricultural 

 Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 574). 



Sterns densely tufted, slender, 1 to H, rarely 2 feet, high, quite glabrous, the nodes 

 usually dark-coloured. 



Leaves short, chiefly at the base of the stem, scabrous-pubescent, or glabrous. 

 Panicle narrower and looser than in D. crinita, 3 to 6 inches long. 

 Rhachis and filiform branches scabrous. 



Outer glumes very narrow, about 2 lines long, the outermost rather shorter than 

 the second. 



Fruiting glume rather more rigid than in D. crinita, and minutely pitted-rugosc. 

 Awns 6 to 8 lines long, not nearly so crowded as in that species. 



Botanical notes. Yar. setifolia, Benth. Very slender, with almost 

 filiform leaves, the sheaths scabrous. Parramatta. 



Value as a fodder. A useful grass, readily eaten by stock, though 

 not of the highest merit. 



Habitat and range. Same range as the preceding species. Recorded 

 from Norfolk Island. 



