174 



Value as a fodder. A very abundant annual grass, nearly always in 

 growth, and readily eaten by stock of all kinds. Mr. A. H. Crawford, 

 in the following note, draws attention to the perfume of this grass. I 

 have not observed it myself, but Mr. Crawford is a careful observer : 

 " Citron-like perfume. In the morning, when the dew begins to dry 

 off, the scent is very noticeable ; in the heat of the day there is a 

 strong perfume, but quite different from that of the morning. The 

 scent is given forth like that from a flower. Rubbing between the 

 fingers makes no difference, as with Chrysopogon parviflorus. It is 

 unfortunate that the scent of the Eragrostis, strong when the plant is 

 growing, fades at once when it is cut." We have so few records of 

 odours emitted by grasses, and particularly by Eragrostis, that the 

 following is interesting: "E. multiflora, Forsk, or ( Stink Grass/ is 

 coarse and weedy, and has such a disagreeable odour when fresh that 

 animals do not relish it. This odour disappears on drying/' (South 

 Dakota Bulletin, No. 40). 



" E. pilosa is relished by buffaloes. Mr. Symonds says that cattle 

 eat it readily, and that it would make good hay. Mr. Lowrie tells me 

 that at Ajmere it is considered to be a good fodder grass." (Duthie.) 



Other 'uses. It is really a beautiful grass, and well worthy of culti- 

 vation for ornamental purposes. The Seeds are used for food in 

 Ajmere, India, according to Duthie. " E. abyssinnica, Link., is an 

 important food-plant in Abyssinia. The various-coloured seeds have 

 the appearance of grits, and the flour made from these is baked into 

 bread. This grass is probably a cultivated form of E. 'pilosa." 

 (Hackel.) 



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

 Widely diffused in New South Wales. In India, usually in damp or 

 swampy ground, according to Duthie. 



A common weed in the warmer and some temperate regions of the 

 northern hemisphere, chiefly in the Old World. 



8. Eragrostis leptostachya, Steud. 



Botanical name. Leptostachya Greek, leptos, slender ; stachys } an 

 ear of corn, the inflorescence being slender. 

 Vernacular name. " Slender Spiked-grass/' 

 Where figured. Agricultural Gazette. 

 Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 645). 

 Stems slender, usually about 1 ft. high. 

 Leaves at the base narrow, convolute or setaceous, glabrous. 



Panicle loosely pyramidal, 3 to 5 inches long, with slender divided spreading branches. 



Spikelets on capillary pedicels of 1 to 3 lines, loosely spreading, about 2 lines long, 



narrow, but much broader than in E. pilosa, much smaller than in E. Brownii, 



loosely six -to ten-flowered, usually dark-coloured. 



Glumes acute, more spreading than in E. pilosa, the lateral nerves faint and almost 



marginal. 



Palea nearly as long, glabrous. 

 Grain ovoid, smooth. 



Value as a fodder. A grass much of the same character as the pre- 

 ceding, and yielding tender feed for stock. 



