153 



Botanical description (B. FL, vii, 612). — A glabrous erect grass of 

 1 to 3 feet. 



Leaves usually flat but narrow, with flattened sheaths. 



Spikes six to ten, slender, 3 to 6 inches long, at length horizontally spreading. 



Spihelets numerous but not crowded, cuneate, 1 to 1^ lines long without the awns. 



Lowest outer glume very small, almost setaceous, the second narrow and fine-pointed, 

 about as long as the spikelet. 



Flowering glume oblong, obtuse, keeled, slightly ciliate, with a fine awn of 3 to 6 

 lines. 



Terminal empty glume much shorter and broader, raised to the level of the flowering 

 glume and flat-topped, giving the spikelet its cuneate truncate form. 



Value as a fodder. — This is an elegant and at the same time useful 

 fodder-grass. It is both palatable to stock and nutritious, and forms 

 a compact turf. It is common in the coast districts, while at the same 

 time it withstands prolonged droughts. Mr. T. Kidston, of Condo- 

 bolin, who possesses great experience in such matters, reports it as 

 one of the best summer grasses for the western country. 



Habitat and range. — Found in South Australia, Yictoria, New South 

 Wales, and Queensland. In the western districts of New South Wales 

 it frequents Yarran country, when ringbarked, growing freely all over 

 the river flats and uplands. It is, however, wide diffused over the 

 Colony. 



7. Chloris ventricosa, H.Br. 



Botanical name. — Ventricosa, Latin, big-bellied, in allusion to the 



inflated spikelet. 



Vernacular names. — " Blue Star Grass "; " Tall Star Grass." 

 Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 613). — Uusually rather taller than 



C. truncata, often above 2 feet high, with few flat leaves. 



Spikes five to seven in the typical specimens, 3 to 4 inches long. 



Spihelets cuneate and obtuse as in C. truncata, but larger, from 1 1 to 2 lines long, and 

 often, but not always, dark-coloured. 



Flowering glume broad, very obtuse, embracing the much smaller terminal one, which 

 is raised and truncate as in G. truncata, usually emarginate, the awns of both 

 much shorter than the spikelet. 



Another long-awned form has spikes of 3 to 4 inches. (Oabramatta 

 and Ash Island, Hunter River.) 



Value as a fodder. — An excellent grass, having much the same 

 value as the preceding. 



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

 In New South Wales it occurs from the coast to the interior. 



9. Chloris scariosa, P.v.M. 



Botanical name. — Scariosa } Latin, thin, dry, membranous, in 

 allusion to the glumes. 



Vernacular names. — " Rockhampton Star Grass " or " Graoemere 

 Star Grass," of Bailey. 



