138 



than any other native grass known to me. If attended to it would 

 make a close turf. Its nutritive properties are considerable. It 

 appears to thrive with rye grass and clover, which many native grasses 

 will not do." (Bacchus.) 



Habitat and range. Found in all the colonies, except Western 

 Australia. In New South Wales it extends from the coast to the 

 table-lands and the southern mountain ranges. 



8. Danthonia pilosa, E/.Br. 



Botanical name. Pilosa, Latin, hairy. 



Synonym. Danthonia penicillata, F.v.M. in Census. 



Vernacular names. " Purple-awned Oat-grass." (Buchanan.) 



Where figured. Buchanan; Bacchus, (Trinius, t. 51, is D. setacea?}. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 594). 



Stems rather slender, 1 to 2 feet high. 



Leaves chiefly in radical tufts, very narrow, but not so slender as in D. setacea ; 



usually more or less hairy, the hairs sometimes long and spreading. 

 Panicle narrow and dense, not much branched, and sometimes almost as simple as in 



D. racemosa. 



Spikelets shortly pedicellate, about | inch long, the 

 Outer glumes about as long, 

 Flowering glumes six to eight, with lanceolate lobes tapering into fine awns almost 



as in D. semiannularis, but hairy on the margin only, without the transverse 



ring under the lobes of that species, and very few hairs (if any) on the back, 



except at the base. 



Botanical note. Some forms approach in habit D. racemosa, but 

 the spikelets are those of D. semiannularis, except in the want of the 

 ring of hairs on the back under the lobes. (Benth.) 



Value as a fodder. A useful fodder-grass. Bailey points out that 

 as it is such a good seed-bearer, it is not so likely to be lost through 

 overstocking as other grasses. Bacchus refers to it as a hardy and 

 good pasture grass, which does not, however, stand the summer heat 

 well. 



Habitat and range. Found in all the colonies except Tasmania and 

 Western Australia. Extends from the coast to the table-land. 



9. Danthonia semiannularis, E.Br. 



Botanical name. Semiannularis ; Latin,, semi half, annulus a little 

 ring, in allusion to the half-ring of hairs at the back of the flowering 

 glume. 



Synonym. Danthonia penicillata, F.v.M. in Census. 



Where figured. Labillardiere, as Arundo semiannularis ; Trinius ; 

 Buchanan; Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 595). 



A variable plant, the 



Stems usually 2 to 3 feet high, but sometimes much lower. 



Leaves very narrow, flat or convolute, never so fine as in D. setacea, the sheaths 



glabrous or hairy, more or less ciliate at the orifice. 

 Panicle sometimes loose and spreading, more frequently narrow and compact. 



