grass

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


In Australia, as elsewhere, the name Grass is sometimes given to plants which are not of thenatural order Gramineae, yet everywhere it is chiefly tothis natural order that the name is applied. A fair proportionof the true Grasses common to many other countries inthe world, or confined, on the one hand to temperate zones, oron the other to tropical or sub-tropical regions, are alsoindigenous to Australia, or Tasmania, or New Zealand, orsometimes to all three countries. In most cases such grassesretain their Old World names, as, for instance, Barnyard – or Cock-spur Grass ( Panicumcrus-galli, Linn.); in others they receive new Australiannames, as Ditch Millet ( Paspalum scrobitulatum,F. v. M.), the `Koda Millet' of India; and still again certaingrasses named in Latin by scientific botanists have beendistinguished by a vernacular English name for the first timein Australia, as Kangaroo Grass ( Anhistiriaciliata, Linn.), which was «long known before Australiabecame colonized, in South Asia and all Africa» (von Muller),but not by the name of the Kangaroo.

Beyond these considerations, the settlers of Australia, whosewealth depends chiefly on its pastoral occupation, haveintroduced many of the best Old-World pasture grasses (chieflyof the genera Poa and Festuca), and manythousands of acres are said to be «laid down with Englishgrass.» Some of these are now so wide-spread in theiracclimatization, that the botanists are at variance as towhether they are indigenous to Australia or not; the CouchGrass, for instance ( Cynodon dactylon, Pers.), or Indian Doub Grass, is generally considered to be anintroduced grass, yet Maiden regards it as indigenous.

There remain, «from the vast assemblage of our grasses, evensome hundred indigenous to Australia» (von Muller), and a likenumber indigenous to New Zealand, the greater proportion ofwhich are endemic. Many of these, accurately named in Latinand described by the botanists, have not yet found theirvernacular equivalents; for the bushman and the settler do notdraw fine botanical distinctions. Maiden has classified andfully described 158 species as «Forage Plants,» of which overninety have never been christened in English. Mr. JohnBuchanan, the botanist and draughtsman to the GeographicalSurvey of New Zealand, has prepared for his Government a`Manual of the Indigenous Grasses of New Zealand,' whichenumerates eighty species, many of them unnamed in English, andmany of them common also to Australia and Tasmania. These twodescriptive works, with the assistance of Guilfoyle's Botanyand Travellers' notes, have been made the basis of thefollowing list of all the common Australian names applied tothe true Grasses of the N.O. Gramineae. Some ofthem of very special Australian character appear also elsewherein the Dictionary in their alphabetical places, while a fewother plants, which are grasses by name and not by nature,stand in such alphabetical place alone, and not in this list.For facility of comparison and reference the range and habitatof each species is indicated in brackets after its name; themore minute limitation of such ranges is not within the scopeof this work. The species of Grass present inAustralia, Tasmania, and New Zealand are – –

1. Alpine Rice Grass – – Ehrharta colensoi, Cook. (N.Z.)

2. Alpine Whorl G. – – Catabrosa antarctica, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

3. Bamboo G. – – Glyceria ramigera, F. v. M. (A.) Called also Cane Grass. Stipa verticillata, Nees.(A.)

4. Barcoo G. (of Queensland) – – Anthistiria membranacea, Lindl. (A.) Called also Landsborough Grass.

5. Barnyard G. – – Panicum crus-galli, Linn. (A., not endemic.) Called also Cockspur Grass.

6. Bayonet G. – – Aciphylla colensoi.(N.Z.) Called also Spear-Grass (see 112), and Spaniard (q.v.).

7. Bent G. – – Alpine – – Agrostis muellerii, Benth. (A., N.Z., not endemic.) Deyeuxia setifolia, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

8. Bent G. – – Australian – – Deyeuxia scabra, Benth. (A., T., N.Z.)

9. Bent G. – – Billardiere's – – D. billardierii, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

10. Bent G. – – Brown – – Agrostis carina, Linn. (N.Z.)

11. Bent G. – – Campbell Island – – A. antarctica, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

12. Bent G. – – Dwarf Mountain – – A. subululata, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

13. Bent G. – – Oat-like – – Deyeuxia avenoides, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

14. Bent G. – – Pilose – – D. pilosa, Rich. (N.Z.)

15. Bent G. – – Slender – – Agrostis scabra, Willd. (A., T., N.Z.)

16. Bent G. – – Spiked – – Deyeuxia quadriseta, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)Called also Reed Grass.

17. Bent G. – – Toothea – – D. forsteri, Kunth. (A., T., N.Z.)

18. Bent G. – – Young's – – D. youngii, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

19. Blady G. – – Ipperata arundinacea, Cyr. (A.)

20. Blue G. – – Andropogon annulatus, Forst. (A.) A. pertusus, Willd. (A.) A. sericeus, R. Br. (A.)

21. Brome G. – – Seaside. – – 8romus arenarius, Labill. (A., N.Z.) Called also Wild Oats.

22. Canary G. – – Phalaris canariensis. (A.)

23. Cane G. – – (i.q. Bamboo Grass. See 3.)

24. Chilian G. – – (i.q. Rat – – tailed Grass. See 97.)

25. Cockspur G. – – (i.q. Barnyard Grass. See 5.)

26. Couch G. – – Cynodon dactylon, Pers. (A., not endemic.) Called also Indian Doub Grass.

27. Couch G. – – Native – – Distichlys maritima, Raffinesque. (A.)

28. Couch G. – – Water – – (i.q. Seaside Millet. See 50.)

29. Feather G. – – (Several species of Stipa. See 101.)

30. Fescue G. – – Hard – – Festuca duriuscula, Linn. (Australasia, not endemic.)

31. Fescue G. – – Poa-like – – F. scoparia, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

32. Fescue G. – – Sandhill – – F. littoralis, R. Br., var. triticoides, Benth. (A., T., N.Z.)

33. Fescue G. – – Sheeps' – – F. ovina, Linn. (A., T.)

34. Finger G. – – Cocksfoot – – Panicum sanguinale, Linn. (A., not endemic.) Called also Hairy Finger Grass, and Reddish Panic Grass.

35. Finger G. – – Egyptian – – Eleusine aegyptica, Pers. (A., not endemic.)

36. Finger G. – – Hairy – – (i.q .Cocksfoot Finger Grass. See 33.)

37. Foxtail G. – – (i.q. Knee jointed Foxtazl Grass. See 42.)

38. Hair G. – – Crested – – Koeleria cristata, Pers. (A., T., N.Z.)

39. Hair G. – – Turfy – – Deschampia caespitosa, Beavo. (N.Z., not endemic.)

40. Holy G. – – Hierochloe alpina, Roem. & Schult. (Australasia, not endemic.)

41. Indian Doub G. – – (i.q. Couch Grass. See 26.)

42. Kangaroo G. (A., T., not endemic) – – Andropogon refractus, R. Br. Anthistiria avenacea, F. v. M. (Called also Oat Grass.) A. ciliata, Linn. (Common K.G.) A. frondosa, R. Br. (Broad-leaved K.G.)

43. Knee-jointed Fox-tail G. – – Alopecurus geniculatus, Linn. (Australasia, notendemic.)

44. Landsborough G. – – (i.q. Barcoo Grass. See 4.)

45. Love G. – – Australian – – Eragrostis brownii, Nees. (A.)

46. Manna G. – – Glyceria fluitans, R. Br. (A.,T.)

47. Millet – – Australian – – Panicum decompositum, R. Br. (A., not endemic.) Called also Umbrella Grass.

48. Millet – – Ditch – – Paspalum scrobitulatum, F. v. M. (A., N.Z., not endemic.) The Koda Millet of India.

49. Millet – – Equal-glumed – – Isachne australis, R. Br. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)

50. Millet-Seaside – – Paspalum distichum, Burmann. (A., N.Z., not endemic.) Called also Silt Grass, and Water Couch Grass.

51. Mitchell G. – – Astrebla elymoides, F. v. M. (A., True Mitchell Grass.) A. pectinata, F. v. M. (A.) A. tritzcoides, F. v. M. (A.)

52. Mouse G. – – (i.q.) Longhaired Plume Grass. See 72.)

53. Mulga G. – – Danthonia racemosa, R. Br. (A.) Neurachnea Mitchelliana, Nees. (A.)

54. New Zealand Wind G. – – Apera arundinacea, Palisot. (N.Z., not endemic.)

55. Oat G. – – Anthistiria avenacea, F. v. M. (Called also Kangaroo Grass. See 41.)

56. Oat G. – – Alpine – – Danthonia semi – annularis, R. Br., var. alpina. (N.Z.)

57. Oat G. – – Buchanan's – – D. buchanii; Hook. f. (N.Z.)

58. Oat G. – – Few-flowered – – D. pauciflora, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

59. Oat G. – – Hard – – D. pilosa, R. Br., var. stricta. (N.Z.)

60. Oat G. – – Naked – – D. nuda, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

61. Oat G. – – New Zealand – – D. semi – annularis, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

62. Oat G. – – Purple-awned – – D. pilosa, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

63. Oat G. – – Racemed – – D. pilosa, R. Br., var. racemosa. (N.Z.)

64. Oat G. – – Shining – – Trisetum antarcticum, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

65. Oat G. – – Sheep – – Danthonia semi – annularis, R. Br., var. gracilis.(N.Z.)

66. Oat G. – – Spiked – – Trisetum subspicatum, Beauv. (Australasia, not endemic.)

67. Oat G. – – Thompson's Naked – – Danthonia thomsonii (new species).

68. Oat G. – – Wiry-leaved – – D. raoulii, Steud, var. Australis, Buchanan. (N.Z.)

69. Oat G. – – Young's – – Trisetum youngii, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

70. Panic G. – – Reddish – – (i.q. Cocksfoot Finger-Grass. See 34.)

71. Panic G. – – Slender – – Oplismenus salarius, var. Roem. and Schult. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)

72. Paper G. – – Native – – Poa caespitosa, Forst. (A., T., N.Z.) Called also Wiry Grass, Weeping Polly, and Tussock Poa Grass; and, in New Zealand, Snow Grass.

73. Plume G. – – Long-haired – – Dichelachne crinita, Hook. f. (A., T., N.Z.)

74. Plume G. – – Short-haired – – D. sciurea, Hook. f. (A., T., N.Z.)

75. Poa G. – – Auckland Island – – Poa foliosa, Hook. f., var. a. (N.Z.)

76. Poa G. – – Brown-flowered – – P. lindsayi, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

77. Poa G. – – Brown Mountain P. mackayi (new species). (N.Z.)

78. Poa G. – – Colenso's – – P. colensoi, Hook. f.(N.Z.) 79.

79. Poa G. – – Common Field – – P. anceps, Forst., var. b, foliosa, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

80. Pea G. – – Dense-flowered P. anceps, Forst., var. d, densiflora, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

81. Poa G. – – Dwarf – – P. pigmaea (new species). (N.Z.)

82. Pea G. – – Hard short-stemmed – – P. anceps, Forst., var. c, brevicalmis, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

83. Poa G. – – Kirk's – – P. kirkii (new species). (N.Z.)

84. Poa G. – – Large-flowered – – P. foliosa, Hook. f., var. B. (N.Z.)

85. Poa G. – – Little – – P. exigua, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

86. Poa G. – – Minute – – P, foliosa, Hook. f., var. C. (N.Z.)

87. Poa G. – – Minute Creeping – – P. pusilla, Berggren. (N.Z.)

88. Pea G. – – Nodding Plumed – – P. anceps, Forst., var. A, elata, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

89. Poa G. – – One-flowered – – P. unifora (new species). (N.Z.)

90. Poa G. – – Short-glumed – – P. breviglumus, Hook. f.(N.Z.)

91. Poa G. – – Slender – – P. anceps, Forst., var. E, debilis, Kirk, Ms. (N.Z.)

92. Poa G. – – Small Tussock – – P. intemedia (new species). (N.Z.)

93. Poa G. – – Tussock – – P. caespitosa, Forst. (A., T., N.Z. See 71.)

94. Poa G. – – Weak-stemmed – – Eragrostis imbebecilla, Benth. (A., N.Z.)

95. Poa G. – – White-flowered – – Poa sclerophylla, Berggren. (N.Z.)

96. Porcupine G. (q.v.) – – Triodia (various species).

97. Rat-tailed G. – – Sporobulus indicus, R. Br. (A., N.Z., not endemic.) Called also Chilian Grass. Ischaeum laxum, R. Br. (A.)

98. Reed G. – – Pragmites communis, Trin. (N.Z. See 16.)

99. Rice G. – – Leersia hexandria, Swartz. (A.)

100. Rice G. – – Bush – – Microtaena avenacea, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

101. Rice G. – – Knot-jointed – – M. polynoda, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

102. Rice G. – – Meadow – – M. stipoides, R. Br. (A.,T., N.Z.) Called also Weeping Grass.

103. Roly-Poly G. – – Panicum macractinum, Benth. (A.)

104. Rough-bearded G. – – Echinopogon ovatus, Palisot. (A., T., N.Z.)

105. Sacred G. – – Hierochloe redolens, R. Br. (Australasia, not endemic.) Called also Scented Grass, and Sweet-scented Grass.

106. Scented G. – – Chrysopogon parviforus, Benth. (A.) See also 105.

107. Seaside Brome G. – – (i.q. Brome Grass. See 21.)

108. Silt G. – – (i.q. Seaside Millet. See 50.)

109. Seaside Glumeless G. – – Gymnostychum gracile, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

110. Snow G. (q.v.) – – (i.q. Paper Grass. See 72.) (N.Z.)

111. Spear G. (q.v.) – – Aciphylla colensoi. (N.Z.) Called also Spaniard (q.v.). Heteropogon contortus, Roem. and Shult. (N.Z.), and all species of Stipa (A., T.).

112. Spider G. – – Panicum divaricatissimum, R. Br. (A.)

113. Spinifex G. (q.v.) – – Spinifex hirsutus, Labill. (A., T., N.Z., not endemic.) Called also Spiny Rolling Grass.

114. Star G. – – Blue – – Chloris ventricosa, R. Br. (A.)

115. Star G. – – Dog's Tooth – – C. divaricata, R. Br. (A.)

116. Star G. – – Lesser – – C. acicularis, Lindl. (A.)

117. Sugar G. – – Pollinia fulva, Benth.(A.)

118. Summer G. – – (i.q. Hairy-Finger Grass. See 36.)

119. Sweet G. – – Glyceria stricta, Hook. f. (A., T., N.Z.)

120. Sweet-scented G. – – (i.q. Sacred Grass. See 105.)

121. Traveller's G. ( N.O. Aroideae). – – (i.q. Settlers' Twine, q.v.)

122. Tussock G. – – (See 93 and 72.)

123. Tussock G. – – Broad-leaved Oat – – Danthonia flavescens, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

124. Tussock G. – – Erect Plumed – – Arundo fulvida, Buchanan. (N.Z.) Maori name, Tot-toi (q.v.).

125. Tussock G. – – Narrow-leaved Oat – – Danthonia raoulii, Steud. (N.Z.)

126. Tussock G. – – Plumed – – Arundo conspicua, A. Cunn. (N.Z.) Maori name, Toi-toi (q.v.).

127. Tussock G. – – Small-flowered Oat – – Danthonia cunninghamii, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

128. Petrie's Stipa G. – – Stipa petriei (new species). See 101. /?111?/ (N.Z.)

129. Umbrella G. – – (i.q. Australian Millet. See 47.)

130. Wallaby G. – – Danthonia penicileata, F. v. M. (A., N.Z.)

131. Weeping G. – – (i.q. Meadow Rice Grass. See 102.)

132. Weeping Polly G. – – (i.q. Paper Grass. See 72.)

133. Wheat G. – – Blue – – Agropyrum scabrum, Beauv. (A., T., N.Z.)

134. Wheat G. – – Short-awned – – Triticum multiflorum, Banks and Sol. (N.Z.)

135. White-topped G. – – Danthonia longifolia, R. Br. (A.)

136. Windmill G. – – Chloris truncata, R. Br. (A.)

137. Wire G. – – Ehrharta juncea, Sprengel; a rush-like grass of hillycountry. (A., T., N.Z.) Cynodon dactylum, Pers.; so called from its knotted, creeping, wiry roots, so difficult to eradicate in gardens and other cultivated land. (Not endemic.) See 26.

138. Wiry G. – – . (i.q. Paper Grass. See 72.)

139. Wiry Dichelachne G. – – Stipa teretefolia, Steud. (A., T., N.Z.)

140. Woolly-headed G. – – Andropogon bombycinus, R. Br. (A.)

141. Vandyke G. – – Panicum flavidum, Retz. (A.)

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

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