Order GRAMINEfE. 
Genus Agrostis. 
Sub-Order Agrostideze. 
\ 
12.—AG-ROSTIS QUADRISETA. 
SPIKED BENT OB BEED GBASS. 
(.Plates XXFI. A. and B.) 
Agrostis elatior, Steud. 
Avena quadriseta, Labill., PI. Nov. Hoik, I., 25 t. 32. 
Bromidium auADRisETUM, Nees. Hook., Londn. Journ., II., 416. 
Agrostis quadriseta, R. Brown, Prod., 171. Hook, fil., FI. Tasm , II., 114 ; FI. N.Z., I., 296; 
Handb. N.Z. Flora, I., 330. 
A very variable species. Flowers December—February. Roots perennial. Culms 6 inches to 4 feet 
high, slender or robust. Leaves shorter than the culms, flat or involute, often setaceous, glabrous, or 
scabrid. Panicle 2 —6-inches long, slender or stout, densely spiked, or interrupted at bottom, lower 
branches sometimes spreading, whorled. Spikelets pedicelled, ^—^-inch long, shining. Empty glumes 
scabrid on the margins and keel, 1 -nerved. Flowering glume nearly as long, 5-nerved, on a short 
bearded pedicel, truncate with 4 teeth ; awn short, stout, variable in point of attachment. Palea nearly 
as long as the glume, with a silky pedicel at back, 2-nerved. Ovary nearly plano-convex. Stigmas 
sessile, feathery. Distribution of Species : AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, NEW ZEALAND. 
This is a very variable grass both in size and value in pasture, the smaller forms being generally 
most succulent, especially in sub-alpine districts, the larger again being harsh, and best adapted for 
cattle. An extraordinary variety of this species is found abundant near Lake Guyon, in the district of 
Nelson, at an altitude of 2000 feet. (See Plate XXVI. B.) Structurally, this variety differs much 
from the species, being probably the result of climatic influences. The abnormal condition of the 
flowers preventing the possibility of its continuance by seed, would indicate the presence of plants 
with unaltered flowers in the district to continue it there, although none has been collected. This 
variety may be described as a very robust, rigid, close-spiked grass, having all the parts of the 
inflorescence abnormally formed, the most prominent feature being the frequent presence of one or two 
stout rigid pedicels without hairs at the back of the palea, presenting an instance of a branched 
prolongation of the rachis beyond the floret. Distribution in New Zealand : NORTH 
ISLAND: AUCKLAND, BAY OF ISLANDS — Cunningham, Kirk; SOUTH ISLAND: 
NELSON-—H. H. Travers; CANTERBURY—Armstrong; OTAGO—Buchanan. 
Reference to Plate XXVI. A.: Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4. Nervation of empty 
glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8. Ovary. 
Reference to Plate XXVI. B. : Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4,4'. Nervation of empty 
glumes. 3. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7, 7', 7'. Scales. 8. Ovary, with 
scales, &c., attached. 8'. Ovary. 
