kangaroo-grass

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

n.


a name given to severalspecies of grasses of the genera Anthistiria and Andropogon, chiefly from their height, but also because,when they are young and green in spring, the Kangaroofeeds on them. Andropogon is more like a rush or sedge,and is sometimes so high as to completely conceal horses. See Grass.

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.p. 209:

«Of native grasses we possess the oat-grass, rye-grass,fiorin, kangaroo-grass, and timothy, – – blady grass growing in wet,flooded, alluvial spots, and wire-grass upon cold, wet, washedclays.»

1838. `Report of Van Diemen's Land Company,' in J. Bischoff's`Van Diemen's Land' (1832), c. v. p. 119:

«The grasses were principally timothy, foxtail, and singlekangaroo.»

1845. T. L. Mitchell, `Tropical Australia, p. 88:

«A new species of Anthistiria occurred here, perfectlydistinct from the kangaroo grass of the colony.»

1848. W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 131:

«The most conspicuous of the native Gramineae that sowidely cover the surface of Australia Felix.»

1862. G. T. Lloyd, `Thirty-three Years in Tasmania andVictoria,' p. 36:

«Where are the genial morning dews of former days that used toglisten upon and bespangle the vernal-leaved kangaroo grass?»

1862. G. T. Lloyd, `Thirty-three Years in Tasmania,' p. 393:

«Between the Lake River and Launceston . . . I was mostagreeably surprised in beholding the novel sight of a spaciousenclosure of waving kangaroo grass, high and thick-standing asa good crop of oats, and evidently preserved for seed.»

1888. D. Macdonald, `Gum Boughs,' p. 8:

«Not even a withered wisp of kangaroo-grass.»

(p. 193):

«The long brown kangaroo-grass.»

1891. `The Argus,' Dec. 19, p. 4, col. 2:

«Had they but pulled a tuft of the kangaroo-grass beneath theirfeet, they would have found gold at its roots.»

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