48 



Value as a fodder. — A useful grass, hardy, and palatable to stock. 

 Not frequently reported upon, probably because it has been confused 

 with other species. 



Habitat and range. — Found in New South Wales and Queensland. 

 In our Colony, from north to south, from the coast to the tablelands. 

 Speaking of Queensland, Bailey says it is always found on high stony 

 dry land. In this Colony it is apparently more accommodating as to 

 soil and situation. 



49. Panicum melananthum, E.v.M. 



Botanical name. — Melananthum, from two Greek words, melan black, 

 and anthos a flower, referring to the dark colour of the flowers. 



Vernacular names. — The " Black-seeded Panic-grass. " 



Where figured. — Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 488). — A glabrous grass of 2 feet 

 or more, decumbent at the base and perhaps annual. 



Leaves flat and rather broad. 



Ligula exceedingly short, ciliate. 



Panicle sessile, or nearly so, within the last leaf, large and loose, with very numerous 



much divided capillary branches scattered along the main rhachis, and very 



rarely clustered. 

 Spilcelets all pedicellate, about 1 line long, acute, glabrous, often dark-coloured. 

 Outer glume ovate, acute, one or sometimes three nerved, nearly half the length of 



the spikelet. 

 Second and third glumes nearly equal, acute, rather broad, membranous, with usually 



five not prominent nerves. 

 Third quite empty, without any palea. 

 Fruiting glume smooth and shining. 



Value as a fodder. — A moderately tall grass, yielding a fair amount 

 of nutritious fodder. It may be distinguished by its panicle of nearly 

 black seeds. 



Habitat and range. — From Victoria to Queensland. In our Colony, 

 from the Coast districts to the table-lands. 



50. Panicum effusum, R.Br. 



Botanical name. — Effusum, Latin, wide, open, spread out, referring 

 to the panicle. 



Where figured. — Trinius, Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 488). — An erect perennial; our 

 specimens mostly under 1 foot, but said to attain 2 feet. 



Leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, scabrous, and hairy, as well as the sheaths. 



Nodes bearded with long spreading hairs. 



Ligula very short and ciliate. 



Panicle much branched, sessile within the last leaf, 3 to 4 inches long when first in 



flower, at length twice as long, with filiform divided branches very spreading 



and flexuose, the lower ones densely clustered but not verticillate, the upper 



ones scattered and distant. 

 Spilcelets all pedicellate, acute, about 1 line long, glabrous. 

 Outer glume acute, one to three nerved, about half the length of the spikelet, or 



rather more. 

 Second and third glumes nearly equal, five or seven'nerved, a palea within the third, 



about half its length. 

 Fruiting glume smooth and shining. 



