iPanicum.] OLIII, GRAMINEJ3. 1833 



50. P. proliferum (proliferous), Lam. in Kncycl. iv. 747 ; Hook, in Fl. 

 Brit. Ind. vii. 50. Stems erect, 2 to 5£t. high, stout of a somewhat succulent 



• consistence ; the lower nodes somewhat enlarged. Leaves ensiform, 6 to 12in. long, 

 8 to 8 lines broad, sheaths loose ; ligula of fine hairs. Panicle 6 to 12in. long, the 



■ branches rather distqint, scaberulous. Size of spikelets various, terete, palea of 

 3rd glume wanting or minute or linear, neuter or male or rarely hermaphrodite. 



■2nd glume ovate, acuminate, 9-nerved; 8rd 9-nerved, ith oblong acuminate 

 smooth. — Vftsey Ag. Gr. U.S. 



Hab.: At one time this species was plentiful in the still waters about Briebane. Included 

 with P. decompositiitn in Fl. Austr. but of very different habit, the one being a water plant and 

 ■the other a most common downs species. 



51. P. trachyrhachis (rhachis rough), Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 490. Coolibar 

 'Grass. " Oo-kin," Mitchell Eiver, Palmer. A tall erect stout glabrous plant, 



nearly allied to P. decompositum. Leaves long and narrow, the ligula reduced to 

 -a ring of cilia, the nodes glabrous. Panicle large and loose, often 1 to Ipt. 

 long, with numerous long slender divided branches, the lower ones usually 

 verticillate, scabrous as well as the rhachis. Spikelets all pedicellate, nearly 

 1^ line long. Outer glume often as long as the others, 8 or 5-nerved, tapering 

 into a long point, sometimes ciliate at the end ; 2nd and 3rd glumes nearly equal, 

 acutely acuminate, 7 or 9-nerved, the 3rd with a palea often nearly as long. 

 Fruiting glume much shorter, obtuse, smooth and shining. — Maid. Gr. N.S.W. 50. 



Hab.: Pevcy Is\a.nik, A. Ounningham; Brisbane River, BaiZci/ ; Peak Downs, F. v. Mueller; 

 Springsure, Wuth. 



Fibre from the under surface of leaf twisted and used for making twine. — Palmer. 



Var. te7iuior. More slender, panicle, not so large and less scabrous, and the glumes less acute. 



52. P. prolutum (from growing in wet places), -F. i'. M. in Trans. Vict. Inst. 

 1856, 46 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 490. Stems from a branching base, erect, rigid, 

 1 to 2ft. high. Leaves rather rigid, the margins involute when dry, glabrous 

 ■and glaucous; ligula very prominent, scarious, truncate or slightly jagged. 

 Panicle 3 to 6in, long, of numerous slender divided branches, the lower ones 



■ clustered, erect and enclosed at the base by the last sheath or at length exserted 

 and spreading. Spikelets on filiform pedicels ovoid, acute, glabrous, about 

 IJ line long. Empty glumes rather rigid, prominently nerved, the outer one 



•obtuse, with scarious , margins, more than ^ the length of the spikelet, 3 or 

 5-nerved, the 2nd and5rd nearly equal, acute, 5 or 7-nerved, no palea in the 3rd. 

 Fruiting glume smooth and shining. — Turn. Ag. Gaz. N.S.W. ii. 



Hab.: Coniamine Hivev, Hartmann : Annidilla, B<lrJo?i. 



The species is readily distinguished from all others of the group by the much longer not 

 -ciliste ligula. 



5. ICHNANTHUS, Sw. 



(Probably from ichnos, a vestige ; and anthos, a flower.) 



. Spikelets 1 to 2-flowered, pedicels long, ovate or lanceolate, terete, articulate 



{but often persistent), on their pedicels. Glumes 4, 1st, 2nd and 3rd subequal 



-or 2nd the longest, strongy nerved ; 3rd paleate or not, male or neuter ; 4th much 



the shortest, stipitate, paleate, bisexual, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, stipes with 



,^n anticous simple or 2-fid or 2 lateral appendages. Lodicules 2, minute. Styles 



free, exserted apically. Stamens 3. Grain coriaceous, acute or acuminate, 



polished, articulate at the base of the stipes. 



Species all tropical. 



This genus' differs from Panicum in the appendaged base of the 4th glume. 



1. I. pallens (pale), Munro, iti Benth. FL Hongk. 414,; Hook, in Fl. Brit, 

 Ind. vii. 60. Stems 1 to 2ft. long, weak decumbent ; loosely branched, and more- 

 ■or less pubescent. Leaves about 3in. long, and fin. broad, broadly-lanceolate, 



