spear-grass

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

n.


name given to several grasseswhose spear-like seeds spoil the wool of sheep, but which areyet excellent forage plants. They are – – (1) all the species of Stipa; (2) Heteropogon contortus, Roem. andSchult., and others (see quotations); (3) and in New Zealand,one or two plants of the umbelliferous genus Aciphylla;also called Spaniard (q.v.).

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 44:

«Very disagreeable, however, was the abundance of burr and of aspear-grass ( Aristida).»

1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discoveryand Exploration of Australia,' vol. ii. p. 463 [Note]:

«On the south coast there is a grass seed which has similarproperties. The seeds are sharp and covered with fine barbs,and once they penetrate the skin they will work their wayonwards. They catch in the wool of sheep, and in a short timereach the intestines. Very often I have been shown the omentumof a dead sheep where the grass seeds were projecting like apavement of pegs. The settlers call it spear-grass, and it is,I believe, a species of Anthistiria.»

1874. W. H. L. Ranken, `Dominion of Australia,' c. v. p. 86:

«Sheep in paddocks cannot be so well kept clear ofspear-grass.»

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 90:

« Heteropogon contortus, Spear Grass. A splendid grassfor a cattle-run, as it produces a great amount of feed, but isdreaded by the sheep-owner on account of its spear-like seeds.»

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 23:

«A nocuous kind of grass, namely the dreaded spear-grass( Andropogon contortus), which grows on the coast,and which rendered sheep-raising impossible.»

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

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