166 



17. Eriachne mucronata, R. Br. 



Botanical names. Mucronata Latin,, sharp-pointed (mucronate) , 

 the flowering glumes being tipped with short points. 

 Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 632). 

 Stems very slender, but rigid ; about 1 foot high. 



Leaves short, spreading, subulate, with fine points, but not so pungent as in E. 

 scleranthoides, the lower sheaths sprinkled with rigid hairs, or glabrous, the 

 upper ones distant. 

 Panicle rather loose, 1 to 1^ inches long, of few spikelets, closely resembling those 



of E. dbtusa, but rather larger ; and the 

 Flowering glumes tipped with short points exceeding the outer glumes. 



Value as a fodder. Not known. 



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

 and Queensland. An interior species. 



18. Eriachne obtusa, R. Br. 



Botanical names. Obtusa Latin, blunt, or obtuse, referring to the 

 appearance of the spikelets when in fruit. 



Where figured. Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 632). A variable grass, usually 1 

 to 2 feet high, often branched in the lower part. 



Leaves narrow, flat, or subulate, glabrous, or the lower sheaths sprinkled with rigid 



hairs. 

 Panicle loose, sometimes much-branched and 4 inches long, sometimes almost reduced 



to a raceme of half a dozen spikelets. 

 Spikelets ovoid, about 2 lines long, appearing acute when young, assuming the obtuse 



aspect when in fruit. 

 Outer glumes membranous, acute, with fewer nerves than in most species (usually five), 



sprinkled on the back and ciliate with a few long hairs, rarely quite glabrous. 

 Flowering glumes about as long, more obtuse, rarely with a minute point, densely 



ciliate to the top, and sprinkled on the back with spreading hairs. 

 Palea entire, slightly hairy. 

 Grain much flattened. 



Value as a fodder. " A fairly good pasture-grass, suitable for sheep ; 

 it is variable as to height, but generally branches much from the base, 

 and before seeding makes a good leafy bottom." (Bailey.) 



Habitat and range. Found in all the Colonies, except Tasmania and 

 Victoria. Believed to be exclusively an interior species until recently 

 discovered in the Port Jackson district. 



Sub-tribe iv. Festucacese. 



82. Ectrosia. 92. Poa. 



85. Phragmites. 93. Schedonorus. 



86. Distichlis. 94. Glyceria, 



87. Elytrophorus. 96. Bromus. 

 91. Eragrostis. 98. Festuca. 



82. ECTEOSIA. 



Spikelets with one or rarely two fertile flowers, and two or more 

 male flowers or empty glumes above them, in a terminal panicle ; the 

 rhachis of the spikelet articulate above the two outer glumes. 



