155 



Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 615). — 



Stems tufted or creeping and rooting at the base and shortty ascending like the 



Cynodon dactylon, or rarely above 1 foot high. 

 Leaves flat, ciliate, flaccid, with long points. 

 Spikes usually three to five, digitate, and under half an inch in most of the Australian 



specimens, but sometimes 1 inch long, the angular rhachis prominent on the 



upper or inner side, the spikelets regularly and very closely packed at right 



angles to it on the opposite side. 

 Outer glume about 1 line long, acute, the second broader, obtuse, or emarginate, 



the keel produced into a short dorsal awn, the rhachis of the spikelet produced 



above the outer glumes, but glabrous. 

 Floicering glumes broad, complicate, tapering into short spreading points. 

 Pericarp) loose over the enlarged ovary, disappearing from the ripe rugose seed. 



Value as a fodder. — An excellent grass for the hotter, drier parts of 

 the Colony, and worthy of every encouragement. In the Bourke dis- 

 trict, for instance, it grows luxuriantly, and Mr. D. G. Macdougall 

 reports it as a grass " possessing wonderful nutritious properties, stock 

 of all descriptions fattening on it quickly.'" 



Abundant in all cultivated fields in S. Carolina, and commonly used 

 for hay. (Ravenel, quoted by Vasey.) 



It is generally considered to be a very nutritious grass, both as 

 forage and fodder. In the Lahore district it is said to be eaten by 

 cattle, but not by horses. (Duthie.) 



Other uses. — In India the grain is sometimes used for food by the 

 natives in times of scarcity. The Mohave Indians of California also 

 use the grain for food, grinding it and making the flour into cakes or 

 mush. (Orcutt, quoted by Lamson-Scribner.) 



A decoction is prepared from the seeds, which is used in Africa for 

 inflammation of the kidneys. (Hackel.) 



Habitat a,nd range. — Found in all the colonies except Tasmania, 

 also in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. It is found in the interior 

 of New South Wales. 



It is a common weed of warm countries. 



2. Eleusine iixdica, Gsertn. 



Botanical name. — Indica, Latin, Indian. 



Vernacular names. — Has been called " Gigantic Couch/' near Casino ; 

 " Crab Grass" is perhaps the most usual name ; "Crow-foot" ; "Yard 

 Grass," "Goose Grass," "Crop Grass," "Wire Grass," "Buzzard Grass," 

 "Dutch Grass" are names more or less in use in the United States. 



Where figured. — Trinius, Duthie, Kearney, Agricultural Gazette. 



Botanical description. (B. FL, vii, 615). — A coarse, erect, tufted 

 grass, 1 to 2 feet high. 



Leaves narrow, the sheaths flattened and distichous, ciliate with a few long hairs. 



Spikes five to seven, 2 to 3 inches long, digitate, with usually one inserted rather 

 lower down, the rhachis prominent on the upper or inner side, the spikelets 

 loosely imbricate on the opposite side. Each spikelet 1 \ to 2 lines long, con- 

 taining three to five flowers. 



Glumes obtuse, the lowest small and one-nerved, the second empty one, and the 

 lower flowering ones usually three-nerved. 



Pericarp persistent, very loose and membranous, enclosing the rugose seed. 



Value as a fodder. — This is a grass found on the northern rivers, 

 but is spreading, and opinions in regard to its value in New South Wales 



