September, 1939 
The Queensland Naturalist 
65 
Ch. truncata B.R., Ch. unispicea F. Muell., Ch. scleramtha 
Lindl. and Ch. ventricosa R.Br. not one of these grasses is 
common, but collectively they merit notice, particularly as 
all are valuable fodder grasses. 
C Moris gayana, the well-known Rhodes grass, is an 
introduced species which has not yet succeeded in estab- 
lishing itself. From its long creeping culms and densely 
leafy habit it would probably be successful against all 
competitors except possibly blue couch, but it would have 
to be sown on freshly burnt land. 
Ch. divaricata and Ch. truncata (star grasses) are the 
commonest species. They occur scattered over the green- 
stone area occasionally forming small societies, and appear 
to be spreading. These species lack the vigorous stolons 
of Rhodes grass, and have shorter and narrower leaves. 
The culms rarely attain 9 inches, bearing about half a 
dozen digitate, divaricate rather rigid racemes. In the 
west and north-west of Queensland they are much prized 
grasses, and they may be only recent arrivals in the 
district. 
C hloris sclerantha resembles Rhodes grass in habit 
and leaf character, but is less robust. It is probably equally 
valuable, but is confined to a small damp area near Sidling 
Creek. Ch. ventricosa is a much smaller and more slender 
plant, which occurs here and there on the greenstones, 
chiefly in rather damp and shady situations. 
C hloris unispicea is only known from one roadside 
habitat and is most probably a waif. 
Dichelachne micrantha Dom. is a fairly common 
grass on the greenstones. It is a rather leafy grass which 
responds quickly to the least shower of rain. 
Stepotaphrwm sec, undatum , buffalo grass, has appear- 
ed in several places where it is slowly suppressing blue 
couch. 
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS. 
One of the chief industries in the district is dairying. 
It cannot be said that the pastures are very suitable for 
this industry under present methods of procedure. The 
carrying capacity is low and over -stocking is common. The 
blue couch is not a bad grass, but is never allowed to pro- 
duce much leaf. The other dominants are, as a rule, not 
very suitable grasses* though many of less im- 
portance ecologically are fairly good grasses. ■ If 
a system of rotation were introduced it might 
be possible to encourage the growth of such 
genera as Eragrostis , Chloris , Dichanthium and 
