1846 CLIII. GEAMINEJl. [Leplaspis, 



few, spreading, distant, more or less divided. Spikelets distant, pedicellate or 

 1 or 2 almost sessile on the smaller branchlets, the terminal one of each branch- 

 l6t usually male, the lower ones female. Outer glumes broad and concave 

 especially in the females, almost black when dry, the largest under 1 line long, 

 the outer one still smaller. Flowering glume nearly globular but open in the 

 males, rather above 1 line diameter, pubescent in the females, 1 line diameter 

 when in flower, 2 lines when in fruit and quite closed except the minute terminal 

 orifice. — Phariis Banksii, Spreng. Syst. ii. 114. 



Hab.: Endeavour Eiver, Banfcs and Sotader, A. Cunningham; Cape York, Daemel; Eock- 

 ingham Bay, Dallachy. 



22. TRAGUS, Desf. 

 (A goat.) 

 (Lappago, Schred.) 

 Spikelets 1 -flowered, not awned, 2 or rarely 3 or 4 together on very short 

 pfidicels along the continuous rhachis of a simple spikelike panicle. Glumes 

 usually 3, the outer one, next the rhachis, very minute and sometimes obsolete, 

 the 2nd empty with 5 prominent nerves armed with short rigid hooked bristles, 

 the 3rd or flowering glume and enclosed palea thin and hyaline. Styles distinct, 

 slender. Grain enclosed in the thin palea and glume and rigid outer glume, free 

 from them. 

 A common weed in most tropical and temperate regions in the New and the Old World. 



• 1. T. racemosus (panicle raceme-like), Desf. Doll, in Mart. Fl. Bras, ii., 

 Pt. ii. t. 18. An annual spreading on the ground or ascending to from 6in. to 

 1ft. in height, usually glabrous except a few rigid cilia bordering the leaves. 

 Leaves flat, with loose sheaths, the ligula small, split into cilia, gpikelike panicle 

 or raceme 2 to 4in. long, cylindrical and narrow, the very short peduncles bearing 

 on their end 2 sessile narrow spikelets about 2 lines long, falling off together 

 with the peduncle as little burs, the 2nd glumes with their hooked prickles 

 forming the principal part of the spikelets, the acuminate almost aristate fruiting 

 glumes remKining enclosed within them.^Duthie Ind. Gr. PI. xiv. — Lappago 

 racemosa, Willd ; Kunth, Enum. i. 170 ; Revis. Gram. t. 120; Maid. Gr. N.S.W. 

 64; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 5U6 ; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 107; Eeichb. Ic. Fl. 

 Germ. t. 30. 



Hab.: Eockhampton and neighbouring districts, Bowman, O'Shanesy and others; Warwick, 

 Beckler ; Depot Camp, Mitchell. 



In several tropical specimens there is a third or even a fourth spikelet on each peduncle, but 

 I have never seen more than twp in the Australian ones. — Benth. 



23. NEURACHNE, E. Br. 

 (Eeferring to the nerved glume.) 



Spikelets with 1 terminal hermaphrodite flower, and very rarely a second male 

 one below it, sessile along the continuous rhachis of a simple ovoid or cylindrical 

 spike. Glumes 4, the 2nd the largest, fringed on each side at least in the lower 

 half with long spreading cilia on the intramarginal nerve ; 3rd glume smaller 

 and thinner, usually with a small palea in its axil. Fruiting glume smaller thin 

 and often hyaline, the palea also very thin, as long as or longer than the glume. 

 Styles distinct. Grain enclosed in the thin palea and glume, free from them. 

 The genus is limited to Australia. 



1. M". IWCitchelliana (after Sir T. Mitchell), Nees in Hook. Land. Journ. ii. 

 410; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 508. Mulga Grass. Stems from a knotty woolly 

 branching base erect, leafy to the inflorescence or nearly so. Leaves flat, short, 

 spreading, cili^te witli a few Jong hairs or the lower ones woolly-hairy. Spike 



