1 8 PASPALUM SCROBITULATUM. 



Scales 2, short, fleshy, truncate. Stamens 3, large. Styles long. Stigmas 

 penicillate, shorter than the styles. Grain round, thin, plano-convex, 

 free within the hardened glume and palea. DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES : 

 EAST INDIES, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND. 



The value of this grass in -pasture is probably insignificant, and, therefore, its 

 limited distribution in New Zealand is not much to be regretted. It appears to be 

 chiefly confined to the Auckland District and the Islands to the Eastward. It 

 may be noticed as a reason why this grass should not be cultivated in New 

 Zealand, that this species, or a variety of it, is in very bad repute in the East 

 Indies. Quoting from Lindley's " Vegetable Kingdom," p. 113, "A variety of 

 I^ii^ialii m scrobitulcttum, called ' Hureek ' in India (Graham's 'Bombay Plants,' 

 p. 234), which is, perhaps, the Ghohona grass, a reputed Indian poisonous species, 

 is said to render the milk of cows that graze upon it narcotic and drastic." 

 ("Madras Journal," 1837, p. 107.) It does not follow, however, that the same 

 species of any tropical poisonous plant, grown in the temperate climate of New 

 Zealand, would prove equally noxious , as it is well known that the poisonous 

 principle of many plants, such as the opium poppy, is considerably modified by 

 cultivation under a reduced temperature. In New Zealand this species is not 

 much relished by cows, where other grass can be got, therefore its reputed effects 

 on milk, if any, may not be worth consideration. DISTRIBUTION IN NEW ZEALAND : 

 NORTH ISLAND : BAY OF ISLANDS Banks and Solander ; ISTHMUS OF 

 AUCKLAND and GREAT BARRIER ISLAND Kirk ; T1TIRANGI Cheese- 

 man ; KAWAU ISLAND Buchanan. 



Reference to Plate X. A : Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet open. 3,3'. Spikelet 

 closed, front and side view. 4. Palea. 5. Nervation of empty glumes. 6. Ovary 



with penicillate stigmas and stamens. 7. Scale. 8, 8'. Grain, front and side 

 views. 



Specimens of this grass from Victoria have a more slender habit, narrower 

 spikes, and smaller spikelets. 



