Eragrostis] Chill. GRAMINE^. 1905 



7. E. leptostachya (spikes slender), Stmtl. Syn. Glum. i. 279 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. vii. 645. Stems slender, usually about 1ft. high. Leaves at the base 

 narrow, convolute or setaceous, glabrous. Panicle loosely pyramidal, 3 to 5in. 

 long, with slender divided spreading branches. Spikelets on capillary pedicels 

 of 1 to 3 lines, loosely spreading, about 2 lines long, narrow, but much broader 

 than in /?. pilosa, much smaller than in E. Brownii, loosely 6 to lO-flowered, 

 usually dark-coloured. Glumes acute, more spreading than in E. pilosa, the 

 lateral nerves faint and almost marginal. Palea nearly as long, glabrous. 

 Grain ovoid, smooth.— Turner Ag. Gaz. N.S.W. ii ; Poa leptostachi/a , R. Br. 

 Prod. 180. 



Hab.: Brisbane River, Bailey ; King's Creek, Bowman. 



Tliis species appears to be intermediate between IS. pilosa and E. Brounii, var, patens, but 

 distinct from both. — Benth. 



8. Ii. diandra (2 stamens), Steud. Syn. Glum. i. 279 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 vii. 646. Stems 1 to 2ft. high. Leaves very narrow, often convolute, 

 glabrous. Panicle usually contracted into an interrupted spike of 3 to 6in. 

 Spikelets very numerous, rarely above 2 lines long, flat, scarcely 1 line broad, 

 6 to 12-flowered, sessile in dense sessile clusters, the upper ones forming a 

 cylindrical spike 3 or 4 lines diameter, the lower clusters usually distant, the 

 lowest oblong or forming a cylindrical sessile spike of Jin. or more. Flowering 

 glumes closely distichous, thin, rather obtuse, the lateral nerves in the centre of 

 each side or near the margin. Ehachis tardily or not at all articulate. Palea 

 nearly as long as the glume, incurved. Stamens 2 with small anthers 

 but perhaps sometimes 3. Grain ovoid, — Poa diandra, E. Br. Prod. 180; P 

 interntpta, Sieb. Agrostoth. n. 74. 



Hab.; Keppel and Slioalwaters Bays, R. Brown ; Norfcliern districts, Gulliver, Armit ; Koek- 

 hampton and southern districts, Thozet, Bowman, Leichhardt, Bailey and others. 



In the case of some specimens it is difficult to decide whether they should be referred to this 

 species or to an extreme form of E. Brnwnii, though generally the two appear very distinct. 

 The number of stamens, 2 in E. diandra, 3 in E. Brownii, is not constant. — Benth. 



An excellent grass for pasture and hay. 



9. E. Brownii (after Dr. E. Brown), Nees in Steud. Syn. Glum. i. 279 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 616; A very variable plant in stature and aspect, usually 

 above 1ft. high, with very narrow flat or convolute leaves, glabrous except a few 

 cilia at the orifice of the sheaths not by any means constant. Panicle sometimas 

 simple and dense, a few inches long, almost spikelike with numerous small 

 densely clustered spikelets, always however longer and more acute than in E. 

 diandra, sometimes with short spreading branches and few spikelets, sometimes a 

 foot long with few distant branches and long spikelets singly scattered or in distinct 

 clusters, and a great variety of intermediate forms. Spikelets always sessile or 

 very nearly so, flat, varying from J to |^in long, with 10 to 40 flowers, the rhachis 

 very tardily articulate. Flowering glumes closely distichous, the lateral nerve 

 nearly central on each side and prominent. Palea shorter than the glume, incurved 

 the keels usually minutely ciliate. Stamens usually 8, but sometimes only 2 

 even in the larger spikelets. Grain ovoid, oblong, smooth. — Bail. III. Mono. 

 Gr. Ql. i. ; Poa polymorpha, E. Br. Prod. 180 ; Megastachya polymorpha , 

 Beauv. Agrost. 74 ; Poa Brownii, Kunth, Enum. i. 333. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, B. Brown, Henne ; Prince of Wales Island ani 

 Keppel Bay, B. Brown ; numerous localities in northern and southern and in the interior, 

 A. Cunningham, F. v. Mueller, McGillivray, Bowman, O'Shanesy and many others. 



This is very variable but excellent pasture grass ; grows more or less all the year through. 

 The herbage is sweet and nutritious ; it also is a good kind for hay. 



Var. interrupta. A larger plant, often 3 or 4ft. high, with long flat leaves and large spikelets 

 in dense distinct clusters. — Poa interrupta, E. Br. Prod. 180 ; Eragrostis interrupta, Steud. Syn. 

 Glum. i. 279. 



