173 

 2. Eragrostis nigra, Nees. ; var. trachycarpa, Benth. 



Botanical name. Nigra Latin, black, in allusion to the colour of 

 the inflorescence; trachycarpa Greek, trachus, rough; carpos, a f ruit, 

 the grain being rough on the surface (rugose-tuberculate). 

 Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 643). 

 Leaves only seen in one specimen, narrow, rather short, glabrous. 

 Panicle 1 foot long or more, very loose, with very long capillary divided branches, 

 bearing few small dark-coloured spikelets on long capillary pedicels, the spikelets 

 ovate, 1 to 2 lines long, loosely two- to four-flowered, quite glabrous. 

 Flowering glumes broad, obtuse or scarcely acute, hyaline, the lateral nerves scarcely 



conspicuous. 



Palea as long, usually broad. 

 Stamens three, with small anthers. 



Grain large in proportion, globular, prominently rugose-tuberculate. 

 Value as fodder. Not known. 



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

 also in Asia. In New South Wales it is found in northern New 

 England. 



6. Eragrostis megalosperma, P.v.M. 



Botanical name. Megalosperma, from two Greek words signifying 

 large-seeded (megalo-sperma) . 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 644). 



Stems 2 to 3 feet high, the branches almost filiform, but often rigid and clustered. 

 Leaves long and narrow, flat or convolute, glabrous. 

 Panicle narrow and compact, 3 to 8 inches long, with erect branches. 

 Spikelets sessile or shortly pedicellate, erect, crowded, linear, about 3 lines long when 



fully out, rather silvery-shining, loosely six- to eight-flowered, the rhachis 



glabrous, scarcely articulate. 

 Flowering glumes about 1 line long, acute, the lateral nerves often scarcely 



conspicuous except at the base. 

 Palea nearly as long, scarcely curved. 

 Stamens usually two, oblong. 

 Grain broadly ovoid, often three-fourths as long as the glume, readily falling away, 



leaving the glume and palea more persistent. 



Value as a fodder. Not known. 



Habitat and range. Found in New South Wales and Queensland. 

 In the former Colony it is found on the north coast to New England. 



7. Eragrostis pilosa, Beauv. 



Botanical name. Pilosa Latin, hairy, the plant being hirsute. 

 Where figured. Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 645). A tufted erector ascending 

 annual, 1 to near 2 feet high. 

 Leaves narrow, usually flat. 

 Panicle 6 inches to 1 foot long, narrow at first, spreading when in fruit, with 



numerous long capillary divided branches. 

 Svikelets 2 to 4 lines long, narrow-linear, usually of a dark leaden colour, but pale 



when old, loosely six- to twenty-flowered, the rhachis scarcely articulate. 

 Glumes thin, distinctly keeled, the lateral nerves faint and short. 

 Palea nearly as long, slightly ciliate on the keels, often persistent after the glumes 



have fallen away. 

 Grain ovoid-oblong, smooth. 



