Order GRAMINE M. 
Genus Poa. 
Sub-Order Festucaceac. 
4— POA AUSTRALIS, Var. i,a:\is. 
TUSSAC POA. 
( Plate XL VII.) 
Poa caespitosa, Forster. Benth., Flora Austral., VII., 651. 
Poa australis, R. Brown. Var. l^evis, Hook, fil., FI. N.Z., I., 307. 
Poa australis, R. Brown. Var. LjEvis, Hook, fil., Handb, N.Z. FI., I., 339. 
/ 
A large tussac grass, from sea-level to 3000 feet altitude. Perennial. Culms densely tufted, 
1 —3 feet high, slender, smooth. Leaves longer or shorter than the culms, filiform, involute, rigid ; 
sheaths narrow, smooth; ligule o. Panicle erect, 2—8 inches long, branches few, capillary, whorled. 
Spikelets few, scabridous, ^\ inch long, 4—6-flowered. Empty glumes 3-nerved. Flowering glume 
5-nerved. Palea bluntly bifid, 2-nerved. Scale oblique, acute. Grain stout. Distribution of 
Species: AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, NEW ZEALAND. 
An extremely variable grass, which has received different names by authors. It is not surprising, 
therefore, under such circumstances, that various estimates have been made of its value as food for 
stock, according to which variety prevailed in any district, some of the varieties being much more 
valuable than others. There is no doubt but that the true value of the larger tussac grasses, among 
which the present occupies a prominent place, has been much under estimated, as they have never been 
treated fairly on their merits, and conclusions based on the readiness with which stock eat or refuse 
them cannot be accepted as a criterion of their value, unless they are cut down when in flower, and 
treated as fodder. It is well known that even the most favourite grasses of cultivation, such as Lolium 
perenne, the common ray grass, if left uncut till the seed is shed, will be refused by all kinds of stock, 
and so it is with the present species, which should always be treated as a fodder plant. Distribution 
in New Zealand : COMMON IN BOTH ISLANDS, EXCEPT IN AUCKLAND NORTH. 
Reference to Plate XLVII.: Fig. 1. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4, 4'. Nervation of empty 
glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8, 8'. Grain, front and 
side views. 
