September. 1939 
59 
The Queensland Naturalist 
part of the area, and here the chief grasses are Arun- 
clinella nepalcnsis , Paspalum orbicular e , Hemartliria com - 
pressa , Ischaemum australe , and Sacciolepis indica . The 
Arundinella lias a very different appearance from that 
which it assumes on the Phy llites. The tufts may be as 
dense, but the culms are much more slender with longer 
internodes, more or less branched, and often more or less 
scandent, while the leaves are much narrower and the 
inflorescence more contracted. Paspalum orbicular e, 
Hemartliria compressa , and Ischaemum australe are the 
characteristic grasses of these swamps, though only the 
H emarthria is confined to them. This species is a branch- 
ing creeping or sub-scan dent grass with narrow, rather 
rigid, spreading leaves; it frequently forms tangled 
masses. The inflorescence is curved and spikelike. The 
Paspalum forms densely leafy tufts with oblique, rigid, 
flowering culms. The inflorescence is frequently infested 
with Cerebella paspali C. et M. Ischaemum australe is a 
somewhat tufted more or less erect, occasionally branched 
plant with rather long and broad leaves. The culms 
attain 2 feet. Both it and the Paspalum occur in damp 
places elsewhere. 
Between the typical Aristida association and the 
typical swamp, an eeotone frequently occurs with a small 
species of Er iodine predominating. 
There is a complete gradation between the Aristida 
association and the Cymb opogon-D igit aria association. 
Themeda australis (kangaroo grass) is not uncommon, 
and blady grass shows where fairly recent burning has 
occurred. 
In the extreme east and south-east the North Pine 
River is lined with salt meadows of considerable extent. 
The sole grass and frequently the sole plant of the meadow 
is Sporobolus virgmicus var. minor. This plant, com- 
monly known as salt-water couch, forms a dense resilient 
turf 1-2 inches thick, and has an excellent reputation as a 
fodder. In this district this grass is practically confined 
to the salt meadow, but elsewhere it has been observed 
thriving well away from brackish water. Its deep, 
extensively creep and much branched rhizomes anchor 
the plant so firmly that the aerial branches are frequently 
torn up by stock whilst grazing. 
This completes the generalised account of the area, 
but a few special features have yet to be considered. 
