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5. Sporobolus Lindleyi, Benth. 



Botanical name. Lindleyi, in honour of J. Lindley, the celebrated 

 British botanist who described a number of Australian plants. 



Vernacular name. " Yak-ka Berry/' of the aborigines of the 

 Cloncurry Biver, North Queensland. 



Where figured. Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 623). Nearly allied to 8. pul- 

 chellus. 



Leaves narrow, not at all or only very shortly ciliate. 



Panicle very loose, broadly pyramidal, 3 to 5 inches long and broad when fully out, 

 the branches capillary, the lower ones elongated in a dense verticil, the upper 

 ones more scattered. 



Spikeleis i to line long. 



Glumes very acute, the lowest outer one very small and narrow, the second also 



empty, and the flowering glume nearly equal, usually dark-coloured. 

 Palea usually divided to the base into two, even at the time of flowering. 

 Seeds enclosed in a loose pericarp, as in S. pulchdlus. 



Value as a fodder. This is one of the prettiest of our native grasses. 

 It is at the same time nutritious and readily eaten by stock. 



Other uses. The fine seeds are gathered and ground up with water 

 into a paste and baked in the ashes by some Queensland aborigines. 

 (E. Palmer.) 



Habitat and range. It is found in all the colonies except Tasmania. 

 In New South Wales it extends from the table-land to the interior. 



6. Sporobolus actinocladus, F.y.M. 



Botanical name. Actinocladus, Greek, actis, actinos, a ray (of the 

 sun), a spoke of a wheel, &c. ; dados, a young branch or shoot, the 

 panicle branches being verticillate (rayed) . 

 Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 623) . 

 Stems 1 to 2 feet high. 

 Leaves flat, tapering to fine points, glabrous. 



Panide pyramidal, 3 to 5 inches long, the branches numerous, spreading, the lower 

 ones or nearly all verticillate at regular intervals, the upper ones scattered, all 

 capillary and shortly bare at the base, but bearing narrow dense spikelike 

 partial panicles of ^ to 1 inch. 



Spikelets sessile and crowded, nearly 1 line long. 



Outer glume very small, hyaline, almost obtuse j second very acute, keeled, to f 

 line long. 



Floivering glume similar, but longer. 



Palea divided into two from the base, even at the time of flowering. 



Seed enclosed in a loose pericarp. 



Value as a fodder. A useful grass for the dry, hot districts of the 

 colony. 



Habitat and range. Found in all the colonies except Western Aus- 

 tralia, Tasmania, and Victoria. It occurs in the dry western districts 

 of New South Wales. 



