GRAMINE^ 491 



at Thames. In 1912 he states: "this has spread very rapidly in the 

 Auckland Provincial District, and is now common in most districts 

 in brackish-water swamps." 



Agrostis vulgaris, With. Red-top; 

 Fine Bent-grass ; Black Couch 

 First mentioned in Hooker's list in 1864. Now (1917) very 

 abundant in fields and waste places throughout both islands. A useless 

 weed, very troublesome in arable land. 



Agrostis alba, Linn. Fiorin 



No doubt introduced at an early date, but recorded for the first 

 time by Kirk in 1877 from Wellington and then by Cheeseman in 

 1882, as generally distributed in the Auckland district, but affecting 

 somewhat stiff and damp soils. An abundant grass in pastures 

 and waste ground in 191 7, in all cultivated parts of New Zealand. 

 Frequently crowds out other and better grasses. 



Gastridium australe, Beauv. Nit-grass 



First recorded by T. Kirk in 1867, in introduced plants of Great 

 Barrier Island, as G. lendigerum. Gaud., and in 1869 in list of Auck- 

 land plants as G. lanigerum. In 1877 it was reported from Wellington 

 on the authority of Buchanan. Cheeseman in 1882 reported it from 

 Auckland Isthmus, Waitakerei and Otahuhu, and in the Manual 

 (1906) stated that it was not uncommon in waste places and on road- 

 sides in the North Island. 



Ammophila arundinacea. Host. Marram-grass 



First recorded in 1872 by Buchanan, from Miramar, Wellington. 

 In 1882 Cheeseman stated that it had been planted on the west 

 coast of the Auckland Province to check the progress of sand-dunes 

 and that "it may be expected to increase, as it has done at Taranaki 

 and Nelson." It was planted freely about Dunedin before 1894, and 

 at New Brighton near Christchurch in 1899; and has since been 

 distributed somewhat freely wherever efforts are made to bind drifting 

 sand. I do not think it has spread to any very great extent naturally. 



Lagurus ovatus, Linn. Hare's-tail Grass 



First recorded in 1872 by Buchanan from Miramar, Wellington. 

 According to Cheeseman, extremely plentiful on Motuihi Island in 

 1882, but rare in Auckland. It is not uncommon in waste places, 

 especially near the sea, in both islands and is common on wet ground 

 in parts of Central Otago. 



