53 



Other uses. — It forms a dense turf under trees, possessing a con- 

 siderable value for such a purpose in cases where it can get sufficient 

 moisture. It is a common weed in bush-houses. 



Habitat and range. — Victoria to Queensland, in the moister parts. 

 In our Colony, confined to the Coast districts. Found also in Asia and 

 the Pacific Islands, and New Zealand. 



2. Oplismenus setarius, Hoem. et Sclmlt. 



Botanical name. — Setarius — Latin, seta, a bristle, resembling Setaria 

 (the next genus). 



Synonyms. — 0. compositus, var. setarius, according to Mueller. 

 Panicum imbecille, Trin. 



Vernacular name. — " Creeping Beard-grass. " 



Where figured. — Trinius and Buchanan, as Panicum imbecille. 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii., 492). — 



Very near the slender forms of 0. compositus, and perhaps rightly included in that 



species by F. Mueller. 

 Spihes or branches of the panicle all reduced to single sessile clusters of spikelets, or 



the lowest rarely slightly elongated into two distinct clusters. 

 Leaves always narrow lanceolate. 



Value as a fodder. — Same as the preceding. Lamson-Scribner 

 speaks of it as having no recognised agricultural value. Buchanan 

 states that cattle eat it readily, but points out that their relish for it 

 must be considerably lessened by the large amount of foreign matter, 

 such as dead leaves, with which it is usually associated. 



Other uses. — This grass also grows under the dense shade of trees, 

 and hence is very valuable for planting in such situations. It is, 

 therefore, of use for ornamental purposes, but it must have moisture. 

 " It can be propagated by pieces of the stem, which root at the joints, 

 and if cared for, will in a short time make a good turf. A closely- 

 allied grass of similar habit and growth, with variegated leaves 

 (0. Burmanni, Beauv.), is often grown in green-houses for its orna- 

 mental appearance." (Lamson-Scribner.) 



Habitat and range. — Same as the preceding species. 



5. SETARIA. 



Spikelets with one terminal hermaphrodite flower and sometimes a 

 second male one below it, crowded in a cylindrical dense or rarely 

 interrupted spikelike panicle, not awned, but surrounded by numerous 

 awnlike barren branches, persistent on the main rhachis, the spikelets 

 sessile near the base of the branches, and falling away from them. 



Glumes four, the outer one small, the second ' usually shorter than 

 the third ; a palea, and sometimes three stamens in the axil of the 

 third. 



Terminal or fruiting glume of a firmer consistence, transversely 

 rugose, with a perfect flower. 



Styles distinct. 



