Order GRAMINE^. 



6 DANTHONIA FLAVESCENS. 



BROAD LEAVED OAT TUSSAC GRASS 



(Plate XXXII.) 



DANTHONIA FLAVESCENS. Hook, fil., Handb. N.Z. Flora, I., 332. 



A LARGE coarse tussac grass, ascending to 3000 feet altitude. Flowers 

 January February. Culms 3 5 feet high, J-inch diameter. Leaves 

 3 4 feet long, concave or flat, |-inch or more broad, glabrous. Sheaths 

 broad ; ligiile o, or a line of very short hairs round the mouth of sheath 

 with often a tuft of long hairs on each side. Panicle 10 18 inches 

 long, branches few, 6 10 inhes long. Spikelets alternate, \ f-inch 

 long, 2 8-flowered, awn flat, and often twisted at bottom. Empty 

 glumes nearly equal, 5 7 nerved. Flowering glume deeply 2-fid, and 

 shortly awned on the lobes, 9-nerved, covered with numerous short 

 hairs on the lower half, margins and back fringed with long hairs, 

 pedicel tufted with long hairs. Palea bifid at top, and with straggling 

 long hairs on margins. Scale oblong, acute, and crowned with 

 numerous cilia. DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES : NEW ZEALAND. 



This species is chiefly found at great elevations, and is generally the largest 

 and probably the most ornamental of the group. It is commonly known as the 

 snow grass, although several other tussac grasses, both Danthonias, and Schcemis 

 pauciflorus, are also known by the same name. This is a valuable grass on 

 the upland sheep runs of the Middle Island, affording both shelter and food for 

 sheep during continued snow storms, and according to Mr. Travers, many sheep 

 are saved every winter through its protection, although frequently covered by 

 snow for weeks, the sheep, even under such adverse circumstances being always 

 found in good condition, the tussacs affording them both shelter and food. By cut- 

 ting as fodder when the plant is in flower, an abundant supply of winter food could 

 be secured that would serve to keep stock in condition during the hard winter 

 months. It may also be noticed here, that the tussac Danthonias can afford 

 an unlimited amount of fibre material for the manufacture of paper, whenever 

 required. DISTRIBUTION IN NEW ZEALAND : MIDDLE ISLAND : ALPS OF 

 CANTERBURY- Sinclair and Haast. OTAGO LAKE DISTRICT, (2000 feet) 



