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stem taller. In the northern districts it is a common form, with very 

 long scabrous, filiform leaves, and in New South Wales, Victoria, and 

 South Australia it passes frequently into var. affinis. 



Following are Bacchus' notes on two forms which may belong to 

 this variety : — "Poa australis — -(Wiry-grass) — Perennial ; in flower 

 during November and December. A rather low-growing species, from 

 9 inches to 2 feet high ; common on the plains and elsewhere. Except 

 when quite young, disliked by all kinds of stock. This grass seems 

 to have no fattening qualities, but plenty of nutriment for stock to 

 subsist on when forced by hunger to eat it. In this way it forms 

 frequently their principal food during periods of drought." (Bacchus.) 



" Poa australis tenax — Narrow-leaved Poa. Perennial. Found on 

 the sides of watercourses and swamps. About 3 feet high; flowering 

 in December. Of little value for grazing ; but it may become of use 

 as a fibre plant, and is probably the variety referred to by Baron von 

 Mueller as the rough, tufty kind of meadow grass growing along river 

 banks, used by the natives for making fishing lines and nets. About 

 a year ago I noticed what I believed to be a distinct variety of this 

 grass, remarkable for the toughness of its leaves." (Bacchus.) 



5. Var. tenera, Benth. — A slender, weak variety, with very narrow 

 or filiform but flaccid leaves, and a loose spreading, rather small 

 panicle, with small spikelets, the glumes scarcely 1 line long. 



Woods and shady places in New South Wales, Victoria, and 

 Tasmania. 



The following forms are, with diffidence, referred to var. tenera. 

 The names of some of Bacchus' so-called varieties do not always have 

 a holding in science : — 



" Poa australis decumbens. — Perennial ; flowering late in December. 

 A small, delicate grass, with weak, slender stems, and thread-like 

 leaves. I first noticed it here growing in some tussocks of dead 

 rushes. It grows best in light moist soil, forming a kind of turf or 

 cushion. Sheep graze upon it ; but I cannot speak with any certainty 

 of its merits as a pasture grass." (Bacchus.) 



" Poa australis humilis. — Perennial ; grows 1 or 2 feet high ; leaves 

 narrow and succulent ; flowering in December. It thrives on light, 

 dry soil, and appears' to be a favourite with stock, and may possess 

 superior merits for pasture." (Bacchus.) 



Value as a fodder. — A tussocky, rather wiry grass. It is often eaten 

 by stock ; but when it becomes old it is very fibrous, and contains but 

 little nutriment. That stock are not partial to it may be noted from 

 the frequently luxurious appearance of the tufts in places where 

 stock have been running. A fuller account of the fodder value of this 

 grass has already been given when dealing with its varieties. 



Other uses. — The different varieties of this grass afford excellent 

 paper material. It was formerly used by the Yarra (Victoria) blacks 

 for making their net bags (Ballang-cowat) . For a figure of such a 

 basket, see Brough Smyth's Aboriginals of Victoria, i, 345. 



Habitat and range. — Found in all the Colonies, also in New Zealand. 

 Widely diffused throughout New South Wales. 



