12 HIEROCHLOE REDOLENS. 



broad, pale, shining. Empty glumes ovate, acute, 3-nerved ; two lower 

 flowering glumes (staminiferous) obtuse, bearded below, downy above, 

 margins with long cilia, 5-nerved, shortly awned below the top. Palea 

 (staminiferous) bifid, 2-nerved. Upper flowering glume (fertile) obtuse, 

 5-nerved, very shortly awned. Palea (fertile, obtuse, 2-nerved, seldom 

 i-nerved. Scales oblong-lanceolate, of the lower florets bifid, and of the 

 upper floret acute ; the two scales are sometimes united as one by the 

 margins at bottom, and appearing as a 2-lobed scale. Stamens 2 3. 

 Anthers, long, stout. Ovary glabrous. Styles shorter than the stigmas-, 

 nearly connate at the base. Stigmas long, narrow, feathery. Grain 

 ovate-oblong. DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES : CAMPBELL ISLAND, 

 FALKLAND ISLANDS, TERRA DEL FUEGIA, TASMANIA, 

 ALPS OF SOUTH WEST AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND. 



This grass is widely distributed over the Islands in wet places. It was, some 

 years ago, found abundantly in Otago and Southland, from the sea-level to 3000 

 feet altitude. When found at low altitudes it is always larger and coarser than 

 when under sub-alpine influences. It is often found growing luxuriantly among 

 sand-hills near the sea, where its long wiry roots penetrate to a considerable depth 

 in the soil . It is, apparently, a soda-loving plant, being partial to littoral swamps, 

 where, in such places, it often attains four feet in height, the large graceful 

 plume-like panicles forming conspicuous objects, and emitting, in warm weather, 

 a strong perfume. When found in upland pastures it is of much smaller size, and 

 more succulent, forming a valuable component of the pasture, and eaten by cattle 

 and sheep with apparent relish. This grass, with many others, has suffered much 

 in the South Island in the general deterioration of the pasture during the last 

 fifteen years ; and, although its deep-seated roots might have enabled it to resist 

 the effects of repeated burnings, yet, where burning has been combined with over- 

 feeding, it has nearly been destroyed. It is probable that this grass has been 

 somewhat over-rated as regards its nutrient qualities, but it would be an impossible 

 task to lay down a constant value for any grass, as this must continually vary, 

 according to the different conditions in which it is placed as regards soil, moisture, 

 and heat. 



In sub-alpine situations, both in New Zealand and in Australia, the settlers 

 do not recognize much difference between this species and H, alplna ; and in such 

 situations the value of both in pasture is nearly equal, neither being considered as 

 a first-class grass. 



Reference to Plate VI. : Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Florets with the 

 empty glumes removed. 4, 4'. Nervation of empty glumes. 5. Nervation of 

 staminiferous flowering glumes. 6. Nervation of staminiferous Palea. 7. Nerva- 

 tion of fertile flowering glume. 8. Nervation of fertile Palea. 9. Scale of 

 staminiferous floret. 10. Scale of fertile floret. 11. Ovary. 12. Grain. 



