172 



Section II. — Megastachya. 



Spikelets when mature very flat. Glumes closely imbricate in two distinct rows, leaving 

 a longitudinal furrow or depression between them on each side of the 

 spikelet, the lateral nerve usually prominent in the middle of each side of 

 the glume. 



Base of the stems glabrous, not at all or scarcely thickened. 



Spikelets under 3 lines, sessile in small dense globular or oblong 



clusters sessile along a simple rhachis. Stamens usually two 10. E. diandra. 



Spikelets 3 to 6 lines, rather narrow, usually sessile and erect, 

 scattered or clustered, rarely shortly pedicellate and spread- 

 ing in a simple or branched panicle. Stamens usually three 11. E. Brownii. 

 Base of the stem and short sheath of radical leaves thickened into 

 an almost bulbous woolly-hairy base. 



Spikelets shortly pedicellate, nearly 2 lines broad, the base of the 



flowering glumes woolly-hairy ... .*. ... ... ... 14. i£ lani flora. 



Spikelets sessile, scattered, glabrous, above 1 line broad ... 15. E. eriopoda. 



Spikelets shortly pedicellate, glabrous, about f line broad ... 16. E. chcetophytta. 



Section III. — Cylindkostachya. 



Spikelets very narrow, terete or nearly so ; glumes closely appressed. 



Spikelets ten- to thirty-flowered, rather obtuse, shortly pedicellate 



in a small panicle .. , ... ... ... ... ... ... 17. E. lacunaria. 



Spikelets twelve- to fifty-flowered, obtuse, sessile, usually clustered, 



often incurved 18. E. fakata. 



1. Eragrostis tenella, Beauv. 



Botanical name. — Eragrostis, from two Greek words — eras, love, 

 and agrostis, grass ; hence the name, " Love-grass," an allusion, Paxton 

 says, "to the beautiful dancing spikelets"; tenella — Latin, somewhat 

 tender and dainty, referring to the graceful inflorescence. 



Vernacular names. — I know of none. Grasses of the genus Era- 

 grostis are sometimes (one can scarcely say popularly) called " Love- 



Where figured. — Duthie. 



Botanical description (B. Fl., vii, 643). — An erect, tufted annual, 

 from 6 inches to near 2 feet high. 



Leaves flat, usually narrow, glabrous. 



Panicle usually occupying the greater part of the plant, with very numerous 



capillary much-divided branches, the lower ones in distant whorls or clusters. 

 Spikelets pedicellate, minute, rarely % line long, with three or four, or rarely six 



flowers. 

 Glumes thin, almost hyaline, obtuse, about £ line long, the lateral nerve on each side 



almost marginal, very loosely imbricate, the rhachis articulate. 

 Palea glabrous, as long as the glume. 

 Stamens varying one to three. 

 Grain very small, ovoid. 



Value as a fodder. — A small, tufted grass, excellent for pasture. 

 Duthie says it is eaten by cattle both fresh and dry, and he also states 

 that the seeds are said to be nutritious. 



Habitat and range. — Found in all the Colonies, except Tasmania. 

 In New South Wales it extends from the tableland to the interior. It 

 is common on the inland plains of Northern Queensland, also in 

 Central and North Australia, and widely spread through eastern and 

 tropical Asia. 



