Order GR AMINES. 



2. ARUNDO FULVIDA. 



ERECT PLUMED TUSSAC GRASS. 

 (Plate XXVIII.) 



ARUNDO FULVIDA, Buchanan, Trans. N.Z. Institute, VI., 242. ARUNDO 

 CONSPICUA, Forst. VAR. FULVIDA, Kirk. Trans. N.Z. Institute, X., 

 App. XLIII. 



A large ornamental tussac grass. Flowers December January. Culms 

 4 6 feet high. Leaves involute, broad, smooth or sparsley covered 

 with silky hairs, and with long attenuate curving points ; ligule o, or with 

 a waved line of short hairs on mouth of sheath. Panicle 12 18 inches 

 long, dense flowered, erect, bright fulvous colour. Spikelets \ 2 

 flowered, pedicels capillary. Empty glumes \ J-inch long, i-nerved, 

 narrow, tapering, apiculate. Flowering glume 3-nerved, with numerous 

 long silky hairs proceeding from near the base, lateral awns very short, 

 central awn not included. Palta i -nerved, short, oblong, tapering. 

 Scales fleshy, crowned with about 12 cilia. Ovary elongate, narrow. 

 DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES : NEW ZEALAND. 



It has been considered expedient in the present work to retain the specific 

 distinction of this grass, in order that the numerous varieties hitherto included 

 under the former species might be arranged into two natural groups. The two 

 species thus adopted will occupy the extreme limits of a large group of varieties, 

 and probably those nearest allied to the present species, may prove the most 

 valuable as fodder plants, from their superior succulence and smoothness. The 

 long straight flower stems, the Kakaho of the Maories, are worthy of attention 

 in husbandry as a first class material for thatching stacks or out-houses. 

 In the primative state of New Zealand colonial society, these grasses known 

 as Toetoe, as also Raupo, Ti/pka anyustifolia, were much used in roofing 

 buildings both in town and country. The Maoris also produced beautiful 

 specimens of plaiting for the interior decoration of walls from the split stems of 

 the Kakaho, some of which may still be seen near Wellington. 



It is highly probable that the cultivation of the Arttndo grasses under notice, 

 might prove as remunerative as many of the exotic grasses at present recommended. 

 DISTRIBUTION IN NEW ZEALAND : NORTH ISLAND : POVERTY BAY, 





