153 SPOROBOLUS VIRGINICUS, Kunth. (Agrostis virginica, Linn. ; Vilfa virginica, Beauv.) A creeping grass, sending up erect leafy stems from its underground running rhizome, common on the salt marshes of Queensland, where it affords a very fattening pasture. Two forms are shown both from Moreton Bay, one much more robust than the other. This grass is widely spread over the warmer regions of the world. STAR GRASS. Chloris dicaricata. 154 STENOTAPHRUM AMERICANUM, Schrank. (S. glabrum, Trin.; Rottboellia compressa, Beauv.; Diastemanthe platystachys, Steud.) Buffalo Grass. Naturally this is a c ast grass, but in Queensland it thrives everywhere, and has become naturalised in many localities even on the tops of some of the ranges. For binding banks no better kind could be found, and some speak highly of it as a fodder. It is met with near the sea in tropical regions both of the new and old world. 155 STIPA ARISTIGLUMIS, F. v. M. This is a strong growing grass, producing a large quantity of excellent fodder; indeed it is one of the very best species found on the Downs; the seed also are not so troublesome as some others of the genus. Met with in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. 156 STIPA SETACEA, R. Br. The Common Spear-Grass of the southern colonies. This is an excellent grass prior to seeding when it is very troublesome to sheep. Only met with in the most southern parts of Queenlsand, but abundant in all the other colonies. 157 STIPA VERTICILLATA, Nees. (S. micrantha, R. Br.; Streptachne verticillata, Trin.; Stipa ramosissima, Nees; Streptachne ramosissima, Trin.; also Urachne ramosissima, Trin.) Bamboo Grass. A tall tufty grass, often met with in scrubs and on the sides of hills. The stems are often four or five feet high, strong and numerous, and at the joints are produced large dense tufts of leaves. Horses are particularly tond of this grass. Found in Queensland and New South Wales. STREPTACHNE. (See Stipa.) SUGAR GRASS OF MACKAY. Hemarthria compressa, SUGAR GRASS. Pollinia fulva. SUMMER GRASS. Panicum sanguinale. SUMMER GRASS OF WARREGO. Panicum flavidum. SWAMP FOXTAIL. Pennisetum compressum. TALL SPEAR GRASS. Heteropogon insignis. THREE-AWNED SPEAR GRASS. Aristida. TASSEL BLUE GRASS. Andropogon sericeus, var. polystachyus. 158 THUAREA SARMENTOSA, Pers. (T. latifolia, T. media, and T. involuta, R. Br.; Ornithocephalochloa arenicola, Kurz.) This grass is found on the sandy beach of tropical Australia, and similar places in other tropical countries, its long running stem and short tufts of foliage affording a bite where little else would grow; but perhaps the most economic use of the plant is as a binder of drift sand. 159 TRAGUS RACEMOSUS, Desf. (Lippago racemosa, Willd.) Small Burr Grass. A small annual grass, often met with on dry stony knolls, where in winter and early spring it produces a fair amount of feed. Although a burr grass, this is said to do no harm to the wool. A weed of most tropical and temperate regions. TRICHOLENA ROSEA. (See Panicum Teneriffa, var. rosea.) 160 TRIODIA MITCHELLII, Benth. (T. pungens, Lindl.) The Warrego Spinifex. A very handsome tufty grass, four or five feet high; of little use for feed except after being burnt off, when the young growth is greedily eaten by stock. Found in the small brigalow scrubs of the Maranoa. TRIODIA. (See Diplachne.) 161 TRIRAPHIS MOLLIS, R. Br. This is a rather wiry grass, found on poor land, the most conspicuous part of which being its rather large, long, dense panicle. When met with on good soil, however, it produces a very fair amount of feed. Widely spread through Australia. TRITICUM. (See Agropyrum.) TUSSAC POA. Poa cæspitosa. URALEPIS. (See Diplachne.) UROCHLOA. (See Panicum semialatum.) VILFA. (See Sporobolus.) WARREGO SUMMER GRASS. Panicum flavidum. WARREGO SPINIFEX. Triodia Mitchellii WATER OR KNEE-JOINTED FOXTAIL GRASS. Alopecurus geniculatus. WHEAT GRASS. Ischæmum triticeum. WILD RICE. WIRE GRASS. Oryza sativa. Eleusine indica. YARD GRASS. Eleusine indica. 162 ZOYSIA PUNGENS, Willd. (Rottboellia uniflora, A. Cunn.) Pungent Couch Grass or Coast Couch Grass. This is a common grass in maritime sands of tropical and eastern Asia, also on the coast lands north and south in Australia and New Zealand. It forms a compact turf, and affords a large supply of herbage, and, if not found indigenous, should be introduced in sandy districts near the sea, where, from the saline nature of the soil, other herbage would hardly thrive. Stock are particularly fond of this grass and thus crop it down closely. |