July, 1952 
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST 
Page forty-five 
THE INTRODUCED FLORA OF THE 
ADELAIDE PLAINS 
By J. B. Cleland. 
For the last ten or twelve years I have 
been keeping a record of the plants, natural 
and introduced, of the Adelaide Plains, 
and of the dates of the earliest and latest 
flowering of each species. The last men- 
tioned may be of value in hay-fever when 
searching for the pollen responsible for the 
condition. The Adelaide Plains for this 
survey extend from the foothills of the 
Mount Lofty Range on the east to Tapley’s 
Hill Road on the west— the Flora of the 
Adelaide Coast, extending from this road 
westwards to the sea has been dealt with 
in a previous publication. On the south, 
the foothills again bound it, terminating 
at the Flagstaff Hotel. The limit in the 
north has been the Little Para River. 
A A before the name of the plant means 
that it has been found growing within the 
four terraces of the City of (S.) Adelaide. 
A only means that it has been found within 
the boundary fence of the Parklands of 
the City of Adelaide. 
The dates of flowering are those actually 
observed and recorded. It will be seen that 
there is much more to be done in this con- 
nection. In some cases I have no record as 
yet, in many others the flowering period 
can be considerably extended, especially 
during exceptional seasons. The present 
however is a jumping off ground to which 
many can add in the future. The species 
are numbered to facilitate the publication 
of additional notes. 
The fragrance or its absence of a num- 
ber of these plants has been noted. 
A = Within bounds of the city of Adelaide 
(i.e. city and boundary fence of the park 
lands). 
AA = Within the four terraces around the 
city proper . 
1. A — Finns halapensis (Aleppo Pine). At 
the top of Beaumont Road, a number of 
seedlings are coming up on roadways and 
adjacent fields. 
2. A— Sorghum halepense (Johnston 
Grass). November 18 - June 14 (stamens 
and pistils, November 26 - May 17). This 
grass sometimes liberates hydrocyanic acid 
when chewed and death may result from 
animals gorging on it. The underground 
roots (rhizomes) are very succulent and 
penetrate deeply so that the grass is hard 
to eradicate. Horses eat the roots readily 
when dug up. 
3. A —Pcispalum dilatatum. November 20- 
May 30 (stamens, November 20-May 2). 
Stamens dark purple, the feathery styles 
blackish. This well-known fodder grass 
appears spontaneously in many places. 
4. AA —Digitaria sangninalis (Summer 
Grass). November 19-June 2 (stamens, 
November 19-May 11). This grass is too 
small to be of any fodder value and is 
merely a mild nuisance. It is common in 
summer time in watered gardens. It is 
probably an introduction to the Adelaide 
plains. 
5. A A —Echinochloa crus-galli (Cockspur 
Grass). February 12, March 2-April 27. Not 
common on the plains unless cultivated. 
One plant found in the gutter at the East 
End Market; spontaneous plants at Wood- 
ville, Parkside and Linden Park, Zoological 
Gardens beside a cage. 
6. A —Setaria verticillcita. December 7- 
April 15 (stamens, December 7-March 12). 
The barbs on the glumes readily catch in 
anything and may even pull the feathers 
out of birds that come in contact with the 
grass. Common in uncultivated gardens. A 
considerable nuisance from adhering to 
stockings, etc., and of no commercial value. 
7. A —Pennisetum villosum. November 
28-June 11 (stamens or styles, November 
28-May 12, June 10 (styles). An ornamental 
grass growing in tussock form and rather 
harsh which has established itself on road- 
sides and similar places. It has been here 
many years, but so far has not monopolised 
much ground. It probably can be eaten by 
stock when more nourishing grasses are not 
available. 
8. Stenotaphrum secundatum (Buffalo 
Grass). Common on lawns and occasionally 
appearing spontaneously. January 26 
(stamens). 
9. AA—Ehrharta longi flora. July 18- 
March 31, May 12 (stamens or styles, 
