The present grass has no claim whatever as a food-plant for stock, and can only be recommended 
as a sand-binder in fixing drift sands when encroaching on valuable land. For this purpose it deserves 
more attention than has hitherto been bestowed upon it. It is a plant of comparatively rapid growth, 
and with the aid of other indigenous plants, such as Desmoschcenus spiralis , of similar habit, would give 
effectual aid in checking the inroads of wind-driven sand, conditionally that the plants be carefully 
conserved from fire. From the ravages of this element alone, since the settlement of New Zealand, 
may be ascribed the increased spread of wind-driven sand, and, under such inflictions, the indigenous 
plants are overlooked in reclothing the sand dunes with vegetation, seed of exotic plants inferior for 
this purpose being often imported at considerable expense. 
This grass may be propagated by seed, as also by roots; the seed may be collected in February, 
March, and April. It is probable, however, that the trouble incurred in collecting native grass seed, 
when compared with the ease with which exotic seed may be procured by purchase, will account for 
the neglect of such valuable sand-binders as the grass under notice. Distribution in New Zealand: 
COMMON ON THE COASTS EVERYWHERE. 
Reference to Plate VIII. : Fig. i. Male plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Nervation of first and second 
empty glumes. 4. Nervation of third empty glume and flowering glume. 5. Nervation of Palea. 
6, 6'. Scales of lower Palea. 7, 7'. Scales of upper Palea. 8. Variety of scales with stamens. 
9. Diagram showing the arrangement of the glumes in floret, in which the third empty glume holds the 
position of flowering glume to the upper Palea, and may be considered as a flowering glume. 
1 
Reference to Plate IX. : Fig. 1. Female plant. 2. Spikelet. 3. Nervation of first empty 
glume. 4. Nervation of second empty glume. 5. Nervation of third empty glume. 6. Nervation of 
flowering glume. 7. Nervation of Palea. 8, 8'. Scales. 9, 9'. Ovary, with three abortive stamens, 
and long stigmas. 10. Grain. 
1 
