Order GRAMINfE. 
Genus Danthonia. 
Sub-Order Avenace/e. 
6.—DANTHONIA FLAVESCENS. 
BROAD-LEAVED OAT TUSSAC GRASS. 
(Plate XXXII.) 
Danthonia flavescens. Hook, fil., Handb. N.Z.[Flora, I., 332. 
A large coarse tussac grass, ascending to 3000 feet altitude. Flowers January—February. Culms 
3—3-feet high, J-inch diameter. Leaves 3—4-feet long, concave or flat, -^-inch or more broad, 
glabrous, Sheaths broad; ligule o, or a line of very short hairs round the mouth of sheath, with often 
a tuft of long hairs on each side. Panicle 10—18-inches long, branches few, 6— 1 o-inches long. Spikelets 
alternate, J—f-inch long, 2—8-flowered, awn flat, and often twisted at bottom. Empty glumes nearly 
equal, 3—7-nerved. Flowering glume deeply 2-fid, and shortly awned on the lobes, 9-nerved, covered 
with numerous short hairs on the lower half, margins and back fringed with long hairs, pedicel tufted 
with long hairs. Palea bifid at top, and with straggling long hairs on margins. Scale oblong, acute, 
and crowned with numerous cilia. Distribution of Species : NEW ZEALAND. 
This species is chiefly found at great elevations, and is generally the largest and probably the most 
ornamental of the group. It is commonly known as the snow grass, although several other tussac 
grasses, both Danthonias, and Schoenus pauciflorus , are also known by the same name. This is a 
valuable grass on the upland sheep runs of the Middle Island, affording both shelter and food for sheep 
during continued snow storms, and, according to Mr. Travers, many sheep are saved every winter 
through its protection, although frequently covered by snow for weeks, the sheep even under such 
adverse circumstances being always found in good condition, the tussacs affording them both shelter 
and food. By cutting as fodder when the plant is in flower, an abundant supply of winter food could 
be secured that would serve to keep stock in condition during the hard winter months. It may also 
be noticed here that the tussac Danthonias can afford an unlimited amount of fibre material for the 
manufacture of paper, whenever required. Distribution in New Zealand: MIDDLE ISLAND: 
ALPS OF CANTERBURY—-Sinclair and Flaast; OTAGO LAKE DISTRICT (2000 feet)— 
Hector and Buchanan ; ROCK AND PILLAR RANGE TO MAUNGATUA HILL, WEST 
TAIERI, OTAGO—W. Petrie. 
Reference to Plate XXXII.: Fig. 1. Branch of a Panicle. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4,4. Nerva¬ 
tion of empty glumes. 3. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8. Ovary 
and stigmas, as protruded past the Palea. 
