FLORA OF HAWAIIAN" ISLANDS HITCHCOCK. 455 



tributed in about the kind of soil that is suited to Hilo grass. Pili- 

 piliula {Chrysopogon aciculatus) is the name given to a pestiferous 

 little grass covering much of the dry plain in the interior of Oahu. 

 This grass, introduced from the East Indies, produces sharp-pointed 

 seeds which penetrate the clothing of those who walk through it 

 and produce much discomfort. Bernuida grass is thoroughly natu- 

 ralized in the drier localities and is extensively used as a lawn and 

 park grass. Its native name is manienie, a name which was applied 

 by the Hawaiians originally to Stenotaphrmn secundatum^ another 

 creeping grass. The latter species is frequent in tropical regions and 

 is known in the southern United States as St. Augustine grass. 



The genus Eragrostis is represented by several native species, most 

 of which are endemic. One species {E. variahilis) is characteristic 

 of the wind-swept open slopes of the Nuuanu Pali, a pass in the 

 Koolau Eange east of Honolulu. Upon the plain between Mauna 

 Kea and Mauna Loa, a great stock-range country, a tall slender tufted 

 species (E. atrop4.oides) is the prevailing grass. 



The genus Panicum is represented also by several native species. 

 Panlcuni torridum and its allies, fuzzy annuals called by the general 

 name kakonakona, are winter grasses that follow the rains on the 

 semiarid plains, and furnish a considerable portion of the forage at 

 that time. Three species of Panicum {P. itribricatuiiv^ P. isachnoides, 

 and P. mon.ticola) are characteristic of the open bogs of the wet 

 mountain summits, where they form hemispherical tussocks, consist- 

 ing of a mass of old roots and stems with a covering of living shoots 

 an inch or two long. 



Upon tho. upper slopes of Mauna Kea and other high mountains 

 toward the limit of tree growth there are three characteristic species 

 of grass that are found sometimes in great abundance. They are all 

 tufted species that furnish forage to the stock that range through 

 these regions. One of these (Agrostis sandiuicensis) is endemic, the 

 other two {Deschampsia australis and Tii^etum gloTneratum) are 

 found in the South Sea Islands. 



Several European species of forage grasses have been introduced 

 upon the ranches and have become established at medium altitudes 

 (3,000 to 7,000 feet). Of these may be mentioned timothy, orchard 

 grass, meadow fescue, velvet grass, redtop, Italian rye grass, rescue 

 grass, and bluegrass. Paspalum dilatdtum^ a native of South 

 America, is giving much promise as a pasture gi'ass in these regions. 

 At lower altitudes Natal grass or Natal redtop {THchslaena- rosea) 

 is being used as a meadow grass, and Ehodes grass {C Moris gay ana) 

 is coming into use for the same purpose. Sudan grass is being tried 

 and seems well adapted to the drier areas. 



In the central part of Kauai there is a species of Poa {P. sipJwno- 

 glossa) which is remarkable in its aspect, especially for this genus 



