A valuable pasture grass, and affording sufficient bulk to add value to mixed fodder. It is 
confined, as far as at present known, to the north and middle parts of New Zealand, and, although 
abundant in certain localities, is apparently not widely distributed. This grass is highly spoken of by 
Mr. Bacchus, in Australia, in the Second Annual Report of the Secretary for Agriculture in Victoria, 
where he says : “ It is a good fattening grass, affording nutriment for stock during winter, and does not 
suffer so much from overstocking as the Kangaroo grass.” No doubt this is due to its deep-seated 
roots, which enable it to withstand the dry heats of summer. Mr. Kirk also reports favourably of 
this grass in Auckland, “ as being closely cropped by horses, cattle, and sheep,” and points out that it 
grows there with equal luxuriance on the light scoria and tertiary clay soils. Its most frequent habitat 
near Wellington is on the river-flats near the sea-shore, and it is obviously a grass that thrives best in 
moist places. As an early spring grass it is worthy of cultivation, and deserving of a wider distribution, 
but, from its having few fertile florets, and consequently producing a small amount of seed, experiments 
in this direction will require much attention and labour. Failing success by seed, propagation by the 
roots may be recommended in this case and others where the plants do not seed freely. Distribution 
in New Zealand: NORTH ISLAND: EAST CAPE, HAWKE’S BAY, and CAPE 
PALLISER—Colenso ; AUCKLAND—Sinclair, Kirk ; WELLINGTON— 
Reference to Plate II.: Fig. i. Plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4. Nervation of upper pair of 
empty glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scales. 8. Ovary. 
9. Grain. 
