28 
Nancy T. Burdidge. 
sessiles, secundae, biserratae, divaricatae, pallidae, lateraliter compressae, 
oblongae, 5 mm. longae, 4-5 mm. latae. Anthoecia 3-5. Glumae lineares vel 
lanceolatae, scabridulae, uni-nervatae, nervis scabris ; inferior acuta vel 
aristulata, 3 mm. longa ; superior trilobata, 4-5 mm. longa, lobus medius 
aristulatus, lobi laterales membranacei, acuti, breves. Lemmata lanceolata 
vel anguste ovata, membrancea, divaricata, tri-nervata, 3-4 mm. longa, basi 
pubescentia, marginibus barbata, apices trilobatae, lobi aequales, nervati. 
Paleae lineares, 3-3 -5 mm. longae, basi pubescentes, nervi scabridi. Lodlculae 
] mm. longae. Antherae 2 *5-3 mm. longae. Caryopsis O. (PI. 3, fig. 10, a-f, 
fig. 11, c-d.j 
The erect culms branch at the upper nodes, producing long prostrate 
stolons or short erect culms, so that when growing the plants often appear to 
be resting on stilts. The central mass of culms is surrounded by the radiating 
stolons which develop terminal groups of erect culms like those of the central 
portion, in this manner a single plant may cover several square meters in a 
diffuse growth about 30 cm. deep. 
The leaves are a drab green when fresh. They are very pungent pointed. 
The sheaths turn a pale straw colour on the older stems. T he auricular growths 
are quite characteristic of this species. Nothing like them is known. They 
are also remarkable because three marginal nerves on either side of the sheath 
extend into the auricles. The secund panicle branches with their broad 
spikelets and fringed lemmas serve to distinguish this species. 
The common name is “ Running Buck” or " Bunch Buck.” The species 
is of no pastoral value though there are reports that it has carried sheep through 
dry summers when there was nothing else available. It is usually found on 
flats or near drainage channels too diffuse to call creeks. 
Distribution. — Coongan Station, Anderson (Burbulge 450 type !) ; Warra- 
long Station, G. F. Melville also F. Melville. 
It was observed by the author in other localities : De Grey Station, 
Pardoo Station, along the Marble Bar-Port Hedland Railway between Carlindi 
and Poondanah Sidings and on low flats behind Port Hedland township. 
None of the plants carried panicles and no material was collected. The 
presence of the fringed appendage on the leaf sheath is. however, sufficiently 
characteristic to make the identification reliable. 
Acknowledg m e n ts . 
The author wishes to express her thanks to Professor G. A. Currie and 
Mr. Andrew Stewart for the use of laboratory facilities at the Institute of 
Agriculture, University of Western Australia ; to Mr. C. A. Gardner, Gov- 
ernment Botanist for helpful criticism and the use of the material in the State 
Herbarium, to which all the specimens from the Institute have been donated. 
Also it is only fitting to acknowledge the assistance given, in the field, by 
the late Mr. -I . L. Stewart and Mr. Gordon Stewart of De Grey Station, Mr. 
Frank Hardie of Warralong, Mr. Ooppin of Eginbah, Mr. Holthouse of Muccan, 
Mr. Taylor of Mount Edgar, Mr. Lacey of Wallal Downs. Mr. Spry of Nalgi, 
and many others. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 
PLATE I. 
Fig. 1. Triodia Based owii , (a) spikelet, (b) lower glume, (c) upper glume, 
(d) lemma, (e) palea from side, (f) palea from front, (all x5.) 
Fig. 2. T. lanigera (x5). Lettering as above. 
Fig. 3. T. pungens (x5). Lettering as above. 
