This grass is the only representative in New Zealand of the genus Panicum , a family containing 
several species of the greatest value as corn and fodder plants, such as Panicum frumentaceum , cultivated 
in India as a corn plant, and Panicum spectabile , indigenous to Brazil, and valuable as a permanent 
summer grass, the latter being highly recommended as adapted to the temperate climate of New 
Zealand. Experiments with this grass in Australia prove its capacity to resist the driest seasons, which 
is pointed out by Dr. Schomburg in his paper on introduced grasses, read before the Chamber of 
Manufactures, Adelaide, and also as the result of experiments by Dr. Curl, of Rangitikei, in relation 
to its value in pasture. (Trans. N.Z. Institute, Vol. IX., page 531.) 
Regarding the capacity of grasses to resist drought, it may be accepted as a rule in the improve¬ 
ment of pastures that the permanence of every grass will be in exact proportion to the stoutness of its 
roots, and depth to which they extend. Species with deep-seated, stout roots, like Panicum spectabile , 
and Sporobilis elongatus, will be enabled to resist the driest seasons; whilst species such as Lolium 
perenne , and Dichelachne crinita, having fine fibrous roots ramifying near the surface, must inevitably 
perish under the same circumstances. Distribution in New Zealand : NORTH ISLAND: 
COMMON IN WOODS—Banks and Solander; AUCKLAND ISTHMUS, GREAT BARRIER 
ISLAND, THAMES—Kirk; TITIRANGI—Cheeseman ; KAWAU ISLAND, WELLING¬ 
TON—Buchanan. SOUTH ISLAND : NELSON—Travers ; CANTERBURY—Lyell and 
Armstrong. 
Reference to Plate VII.: Fig. i. 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. Ovary with stamens and penicillate stigmas. 
10. Grain. 
