38 SPOROBOLUS ELONGATUS. 



better grasses ; and, however nutritions its tongh foliage may be, it cannot be 

 eaten in sufficient quantity by sheep, and especially by broken -mouthed ewes. 

 In New Zealand this grass was, until within a few years, confined to the District 

 of Auckland, but it has now spread as far south as Napier and Wellington. 

 Although a tropical grass, it appears to have an extensive range of temperature 

 within which it ripens seed ; and it will be interesting to observe, in its further 

 progress southwards, into the colder latitudes of New Zealand, if its ability to 

 ripen seed continues co-extensive with the plant's growth. The moist atmosphere 

 of Auckland has already produced a curious change in this grass, the ripe seed 

 being more firmly attached, so that it is no longer shed freely. Conflicting as this 

 does with the etymology of the generic name Sporolohis, which means that the 

 grain is easily shaken out, it is worthy of notice. In the illustration of the floret, 

 Plate XVIII., the grain is shown adhering to the mouth of the floret, being 

 attached by the viscid pericarp, which has become softened by the moist atmos- 

 phere at the period of shedding, or, more probably, the adhesion of the seed is the 

 result of continued rains at that time ; the spike-like panicles also present a very 

 reddish appearance, due to the exserted dark-orange-coloured seed. This is a 

 hardy grass, and grows freely on dry clay hills where other species would fail 

 and, from its having deep-seated roots, it defies the driest seasons. It can also be 

 recommended as a fibre material in the manufacture of paper. DISTRIBUTION IN 

 NEW ZEALAND: NORTH ISLAND: AUCKLAND, HAWKE'S BAY, 

 WELLINGTON. 



Reference to Plate XVIII. i Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet, with grain adhering. 

 3. Floret. 4, 4'. Nervation of empty glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 

 0. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scales. 8. Ovary. 9. Grain. 



