182 



5. Poa nodosa, Nees. 



Botanical name. Nodosa Latin, full of knots or bumps, referring 

 to the nodules at the base of the stem. 

 Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 653). 



Stems usually about 2 feet high, forming at the base one, two, or three superposed 



globular or ovoid nodules, 3 or 4 lines diameter. 

 Leaves long, narrow, flat, usually scabrous. 

 Panicle loose, narrow or spreading. 

 SpiJcelets 3 to 4 lines long, five- to eight-flowered, rather narrow at first with closely 



appressed glumes, at length broad and flat, the glumes spreading out. 

 -Flowering glumes about 2 lines long, five-nerved, without the woolly hairs at the base 



of most Pose, but shortly ciliate-pubescent on the keel and margins below the 



middle. 



Palea nearly as long, the keels minutely ciliate-pubescent or glabrous. 

 Grain free. 



Value as a fodder. " Perennial ; grows in almost pure sand, and 

 produces tuberous enlargements at the roots. It is tender and 

 nutritious, but neither tall nor bulky." (Bailey.) 



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

 New South Wales, found in the extreme southern districts. 



8. Poa lepida, E.v.M. 



Botanical name. Lepida Latin, pretty or pleasant, the grass being 

 a desirable one. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 654). An erect annual, varying 

 from 2 or 3 inches to nearly 1 foot high, more slender and less spread- 

 ing than P. annua. 



Leaves flat, flaccid, the ligula rather long, jagged. 

 Panicle very narrow, almost spike-like, 1 to 2 inches long. 



SpiJcelets not numerous, nearly sessile, clustered on the very short branches, very 

 flat, about 3 lines long, five- to seven- or more- flowered, the rhachis more or less 

 silky-hairy. 



Flowering glumes narrow, obtuse, nearly 1 J lines long, seven- to eleven-nerved, the keel 



prominent, ciliate with long hairs below the middle, outer glumes three-nerved. 



Grain apparently broader than in most Pose and broadly furrowed, but not seen ripe. 



Value as a fodder. Not known, but probably a useful grass. 

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

 Queensland. Found in the extreme southern part of New South Wales. 



93. SCHEDONORUS. 



SpiJcelets several-flowered, flattened in a narrow and spikelike or 

 loose and spreading panicle, the rhachis of the spikelet glabrous or 

 slightly hairy, articulate under the flowering glumes. 



Outer empty glumes narrow, acute, keeled or three-nerved. 



Flowering glumes usually five-nerved, rounded on the back at the 

 base, obtuse or shortly notched at the apex, the keel prominent, at 

 least in the upper part, and usually produced into a minute point in 

 or just below the notch. 



