121 



Where figured. — Hooker, Fl., Tasmania ; Buchanan, as A, parviflora . 

 Gray's Manual of Botany (American) PL 7, fig. o. 

 Botanical description (B. Fl.,vii, 576). — 



Stems slender, tufted, 6 inches to above 1 foot high. 



Leaves very narrow, almost filiform in the typical form, chiefly at the base of the 



stem. 

 Panicle compound, very loose and slender, with spreading capillary branches. 

 Outer glumes narrow, keeled, rather acute, about | line long. 

 Flowering glume shorter, hyaline, broad, and enveloping the flower, obtuse, truncate 



or slightly jagged, unawned. 

 Palea none (or very minute? ). 

 Stamens three. 



Var.j elatior, Bentk. ; taller, leaves flatter and flaccid, panicle very 

 loose and spreading. 



Southern Mountain Ranges and New England ; also in Victoria. 



Value as a fodder. — Produces a neat turf, which has been reported 

 by some writers to be valuable for fodder. The judicious Bacchus, 

 whose writings on Australian grasses form the basis of much that has 

 since been written on the subject, says of the normal species : 

 a Perennial, about 18 inches high, vegetates rather late, making small 

 patches of close turf." Of the variety elatior he says : " This grass is 

 not so much eaten by stock as I had expected from its inviting 

 appearance. " 



Buchanan also speaks of it as a valuable grass. 



In the Colorado Agricultural Bulletin, No. 12 (" Some Colorado 

 Grasses ") this grass is alluded to as " this worthless species, abundant 

 in wet meadows at all elevations." Lamson-Scribner states that "it 

 possesses little or no agricultural value." These statements carry the 

 greater weight, since the species is widely distributed in the United 

 States. 



I do not know to what extent these conflicting opinions are capable 

 of reconciliation ; certain it is that there have always been differences 

 of opinion as to the fodder value of some species of Agrostis, and it 

 is hoped that the matter will be inquired into in regard to plants whose 

 botanical origin is open to no doubt. The matter is discussed by 

 Buchanan under A. par vi flora. 



Other uses. — " Before the panicle has expanded, the grass is some- 

 times gathered and sold, under the name of ' silk-grass ', for dry 

 bouquets. " (Lamson-Scribner.) 



Habitat and range. — Found in all the Colonies except Western Aus- 

 tralia. In New South Wales found on the southern mountain ranges 

 and high tablelands south and north. We have it from Pretty Point 

 (Mt. Kosciusko), 5,500 feet, also from the Guy Fawkes country, New 

 England. A grass of cold localities exclusively. 



4. Agrostis venusta, Triii. 



Botanical name. — Venusta — Latin for graceful, in allusion to the 

 appearance of the grass when in flower. 

 Where figured. — Hooker, Fl. Tasmania. 



