This grass often forms a conspicuous feature in the scenery of New Zealand, and, on low undu¬ 
lating hills or fringing watercourses, especially when associated with the cabbage-tree, Cordyline australis , 
presents a unique feature in landscape botany. Several varieties of Arundo are found, especially in 
the North and on the islets off the coast, but the whole of these varieties may be arranged under two 
species—those with nodding or pendulous panicles, having the florets and awns included within the 
empty glumes, under the present species, Arundo conspicua ; and those with upright panicles, having the 
floret awns not included within the empty glumes, under the next species, Arundo fulvida. 
The economic value of the New Zealand Arundo grasses, as fodder plants, has been much 
overlooked, for, if cut down when in flower, they will be found both succulent and agreeable to stock. 
Experiments made recently on an allied species ( Arundo selloiviana , Schultes, better known as Gynerium 
argenteum, Nees, the Pampas grass of South America), by Sir George Grey, at Kawau, and Dr. Curie, 
at Manawatu, favour the view that these coarse grasses have been neglected, and that they only require 
to be cut down at the proper time to insure that stock will eat them greedily. Distribution in New 
Zealand : COMMON EVERYWHERE AT LOW ALTITUDES. 
Reference to Plate XXVII.: Fig. i. Branch of a Panicle. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4. Nervation 
of empty glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glumes. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8. Pistils 
and stigmas. 9. Grain. 
