THE FLORA OF THE NOBTHEBN TEBBITOEY. 27 



Spathes large with prominent veins. Spikelets covered with long brown 

 hairs, which are chiefly on outer glume, second glume hairy along edges only. 

 Awn long and twisted. 



30 miles S.E. of Newcastle Waters, G. F. Hill (No. 504), 9/8/11. 



Affinities. Spathia appears to be intermediate between PoUinia and 

 Andropogon. It approaches. Polhnia in the type of inflorescence, and partly 

 in the structure of the lower spikelet. It agrees with Andropogon in having 

 sterile (or male) spikelets grouped with the hermaphrodite ones. It differs 

 from both genera in its large sheathing spathes, which are probably a xerophytic 

 adaptation. Within them self-polhnation appears to take place, the spikelets 

 disarticulating and escaping from the investing bracts after fertilization, when 

 the seeds are ripe. 



5. ROTTBOELLIA, Linn. 1779. 



(Apogonia, Foum, 1883. Coelorachis, Brogn., 1829. Cymbachne, Retz., 

 1791. Lasiurus, Boiss., 1859. Manisuris, Linn, 1767. Ophiurus Br. Pel- 

 tophorus, Desv., 1810. Phacelurus, Griseb., 1844. Phohnurus, Trin., 1821. 

 Stegosia, Lour, 1790.) 



The species form good fodder in the tropical parts of Queensland. 



No pedicellate spikelet. — 1. R. corymbosa. 



Pedicellate spikelet barren or fertile. 



Stems scarcely branched, with single spikes of 2 to 3 in., the articles of 

 •the spike densely cihate at the top. Sessile spikelet 1- flowered, the outer 

 glume silky villous. — 2. R. formosa. 



Stems usually branched. Peduncles solitary in the upper sheaths, with a 

 spike of 3 to 6 in., quite glabrous. Sessile spikelet above two lines long ; 

 1-flowered. 3. R. exaltata. 



Stems branched. Peduncles clustered in the upper sheaths, the spikes 

 slender, under 3 in., glabrous. Sessile spikelet under two lines long ; 1-flowered 

 — 4. R. ophiuroides. 



1. R. corymbosa, Linn. — Upper Victoria and Albert Rivers, F. v. Mueller. 



2. R. formosa, B.Br. — ^Islands of the North Coast, R. Brown ; Depot 

 Creek, Upper Victoria River, F. v. Mueller ; North Coast of Amhem's Land, 

 M'Kinlay. 



3. R. exaltata, Benth. — Islands of the North Coast, R. Brown. 



4. R. ophiuroides, Benth. — ^Everywhere, N.A. Gilruth and Spencer, 

 July-Aug., 1911. 



Borroloola. G. F. HiU (No. 789), 23/2/1912. 



Recorded. Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown ; Victoria and Fitzmaurice 

 Rivers, F. v. Mueller ; Port Darwin, Schultz (No. 798). 



6. OPHIURUS, R. Bb. 

 1. 0. Gorymbosus, Gaertn. — Victoria and Albert Rivers, Mueller. 



7. MANISURIS, SwABTz. 



1. M. granularis, Sw. — Depot and Sturt's Creek, F. v. Mueller. 

 A good pasture grass. 



8. ISCHAEMUM, Linn. 1742. 



(CoUadoa, Cav., 1799 ; Hologamium,Nees, 1835. ; Ischaemopogon, Griseb., 

 1864 ; Meoschium, Beauv,, 1912 ; Schoenanthus, Adans, 1763 ; Schima, Forsk, 

 1775). 



Sessile spikelet, 2- flowered, awnless. Pedicellate spikelet 1-flowered, 

 awned. Outer glume membranous. Spikes 3 to 5. — 5. I. truncatiglumis. 



