GRAMINE^ 499 



Lolium temulentum, Linn. Darnel 



First recorded in 1864 in Hooker's list. In the Manual (1906) 



it is reported as not uncommon in cultivated fields and waste places 



in both islands. 



Lepturus incurvatus, Trin. 



First recorded by Kirk as occurring on the sands at Waitemata, 

 in 1864 in Hooker's list. He also reports it as "common on shingly 

 beaches " in many parts round Wellington Harbour, in 1877. Cheese- 

 man in 1882 stated that it was common in brackish-water swamps 

 in the Auckland district. It had apparently not greatly extended its 

 range in 1906. It is a grass specially of salt meadows. 



Agropyrum repens, Beauv. Couch-grass ; Twitch 



Probably introduced long previously, but first recorded by W. W. 

 Smith from Ashburton in 1903, as Triticum repens. In the Manual 

 (1906) reported as not uncommon in fields and waste places in both 

 islands. This grass, considered one of the worst weeds of arable land 

 in Britain, has fortunately shown very little tendency to become a 

 pest in New Zealand. This is somewhat remarkable, as the plant in 

 ordinary soil puts out underground stems from 25 to 30 cm. (10-12 

 inches) in length. 



Agropyrum pectinatum, Beauv. 



First recorded from Central Otago by Petrie in 1899. Later from 

 Hawke's Bay by A. Hamilton. 



Brachypodium sylvaticum, R. and S. 

 Recorded by W. W. Smith from Ashburton County in 1903. 



Triticum sativum. Lam. Wheat 



''^Apparently wheat was first introduced by Crozet in 1772, who 

 formed a garden on Moutouaru Island, in which he sowed, among 

 other seeds, grains of wheat from the Cape of Good Hope. He writes : 

 "everything succeeded admirably, and the wheat especially grew with 

 surpassing vigour." In the following year Captain Cook sowed wheat 

 in the gardens made by him on Long Island in Queen Charlotte 

 Sound. It did not, however, become established. In 1793 Governor 

 King gave the natives of the Bay of Islands a bushel of wheat. It is 

 doubtful, however, whether they succeeded in retaining it in cultiva- 

 tion, for Marsden re-introduced it in the same locality in 1810, and 

 sent some more over from Sydney in 191 1. Nicholas, who accom- 

 panied Marsden to the Bay of Islands on his first visit there, saw it 

 growing well in native cultivations in January, 181 5. Bidwill, when 



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