1878 CLIII. GRAMINE^. 



S3. STREPTACHNE, R. Br. 



(Twisted glume.) 



Spikelets 1-flowered, on short filiform pedicels in a narrow terminal panicle, 

 with the structure of Stipa, except that the awn is continuous with the end of the 

 flowering glume without any articulation. 



The limits and area of the genus are as yet very uncertain. 



1. S. Stipoides (Stipa-lilje), R. Br. Prod. 174 ; Henth. Fl. Awtr. vii. 572. 

 Only known from two very imperfect specimens, one in Herb. Banks, the other 

 in Heib. E. Brown, each consisting of the summit of the stem without leaves, 

 bearing a very slender and loose little-branched panicle of 5 to 6in. Outer 

 glume 4 to 5 Imes long, tapering into long fine points. Flowering glume narrow, 

 glabrous, tapering into a very fine twisted and bent awn of fin. Stamens 3. 

 Hab.: Endeavour Eiver, Banks and Solander. 



54. ALOPECURUS, Linn. 



(From the English name of "Foxtail" for some species.) 



Spikelets 1-flowered, flat, densely crowded into a cylindrical spike or spikelike 

 panicle. Glumes 3, 2 outer complicate, keeled, acute but not awned, Brd under 

 the flower shorter, keeled, with a short slender dorsal awn. No 2-nerved palea 

 or lodicules. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Grain enclosed in the scarcely 

 hardened glumes, but free from them. 



A small genus, widely spread over the temperate and colder regions of both the northern and 

 the southern hemispheres, only penetrating into the tropics as occasional weeds. 



1. A., geniculatus (knee-jointed), Litin.; Kunth, Enum. i. 24, ii. t. 7; 



Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 655. A perennial or sometimes annual only, glabrous 

 except the spike. Stems usually procumbent at the base, bending upwards at 

 the lower nodes, sometimes only 8 or 4in., often 1ft. high or more. Leaves 

 narrow, the upper sheaths broad and loose. Spike 1 to 2in. long, closely imbri- 

 cate but slender. Outer glumes haiiy on the keel, scarcely pointed, usually but 

 little more than 1 line long, free or scarcely united at the base, the hair-like awn 

 of the flowering glume not projecting above 1 line beyond them. — Eeichb. Ic. Fl. 

 Germ. t. 49; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 109; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 188; Turner 

 Austr. Gr.i.; Buch. Ind. Gr. N.Z. PI. v. ; ^. austmfc, Nees in Hook. Lond. 

 Journ. ii. 412. 



Hab.: Darling and Amby Downs. 



Common in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, and as an introduced weed in 

 the southern hemisphere and in some places within the tropics. Perhaps truly indigenous 

 in Queensland but uncertain. 



55. ECHINOPOGON, Beauv. 

 (Beferring to the very rough beards.) 



Spikelets 1-flowered, nearly sessile in a dense panicle contracted into a head or 

 short spike, the rhachis of the spikelet articulate above the 2 outer glumes and 

 produced into a short bristle above the flower. Glumes 8, 2 outer persistent, 

 acute, keeled ; flowering glume thin, 5-nerved, 3-lobed, the lateral lobes 

 unawnad, the central one produced into a fine straight awn. Palea narrow. 

 Styles distinct, the stigmas very shortly plumose. "Grain enclosed in the flower- 

 ing glume but free from it. 

 The genus is limited to the single Australian species, which extends only into New Zealand. 



1, E. OvatUS (ovate), Beauv. Agrost. 42, t. 9,/. 5 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 599. 

 An erect glabrous grass, from under 1ft. to above 2ft. high. Leaves flat, very 

 scabrous; the asperities reversed on the sheath and back of the blade, erect on the 



