144 



Value as a fodder. The Mitchell grasses rank amongst the most 

 nutritious and drought enduring of the grasses of the interior of New 

 South Wales. They are rather coarse grasses, but after the rains 

 they yield an immense quantity of succulent, nutritious fodder. 



Other uses. The seeds of the genus are large and separate like 

 wheat, free from chaff, and are in the interior largely used by the 

 natives for food. (Bailey.) 



When in seed this is a very handsome grass, and quite worthy to 

 rank amongst the ornamental g'rasses for vases and decorative work. 



Habitat and range. Occurs in New South Wales, Queensland, and 

 Northern Australia, also in Western and South Australia. In New 

 .South Wales more or less spread over the whole of the western country. 

 Var. elymoides, Bail. (Syn. A. elymoides } F.v.M. et Bail.), is a Mitchell 

 grass, hitherto supposed to be confined to Queensland. It has, how- 

 ever, been sent from Collarendabri, in the north-west of this colony, 

 500 miles from Sydney, and via Narrabri and Walgett towards the 

 Queensland border. 



It is figured by Bailey, who speaks of it as " a weak straggling 

 grass, sprouting at the joints after every shower of rain, and affording 

 a large amount of excellent fodder .... a great favourite with 

 stockowners." 



2. Astrebla triticoides, P.v.M. 



Botanical name. Triticoides, Latin, Triticum, wheat, Greek, oidos, 

 like, indicating the similarity in appearance of the " head " to that of 

 a " head " of wheat. 



Vernacular name. " Mitchell- grass." 



Where figured. Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 602). Very near A. pectinata, 

 apparently a taller plant, the 



Leaves more or less scabrous or ciliate on the edges. 



Spikes 3 to 6 inches long. 



Spikelets alternate, not closely imbricate, and often almost erect and at some distance 



from each other. 

 Outer empty glumes usually very unequal, the lowest short, the second 4 or 5 lines 



long. 

 Flowering glumes shorter, the lateral lobes shorter and more rigid than in A. pectinata, 



and the awn much exceeding them, the dorsal hairs appressed and silky. 



Var. lappacea, Benth. Spikelets usually thicker, the largest outer 

 glume often \ inch long. Awns of the flowering glumes usually longer 

 than in the typical form, often bent about and some or nearly all with 

 a rigid hook at the end, but exceedingly variable ; in some specimens 

 the hook is very rare, and the length of the awns very irregular. 



Localities. Same as normal species. 



Value as a fodder. Much the same properties as the preceding 

 species. It should be propagated as far as possible, for it is not as 

 plentiful as could be wished. Patches of it should be fenced off, if 

 necessary, for seed. The variety lappacea is coarser than the normal 

 species, but its fodder- value is much the same. 



Habitat and range. Found in South Australia, also in New South 

 Wales, Queensland, and Northern Australia. An interior species. 



