286 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



It is a grass-like plant, very well suited to the soil, and is regarded as the 

 most profitable crop for forage in the islands. It is grown usually by irri- 

 gation and has its greatest use as feed for milch cows. 



Forage Grass. 



Of the grasses, Bermuda grass, known locally as nianienie ■'^'' or creeping 

 grass, has found a permanent place in the islands. The lawns are sodded with 

 it, and it spreads over waste places and affords valuable pasture for stock 

 below the elevation of 800 feet. It was introduced in 1835 by Dr. A. F. Judd. 

 Alfalfa or lucerne -'^ is also cultivated to some extent under irrigation, especially 

 hy dairymen. It is a native of southwestern Asia. l)ut has long been exten- 

 sively cultivated in Europe and America. Its purplish-white clover-like 

 flowers and hairy, coiled seed pods will separate it from the true elovers,^- 

 which are seldom seen in Hawaii. Guinea grass ^3 i.s also cultivated by many 

 dairymen, yielding a number of crops from one seeding, if grown under irri- 

 gation, but Para grass 3"' is gaining favor more rapidly than any of the strictly 

 forage grasses. 



All of the foregoing grasses and a long list of other species were, of course, 

 introduced, coming with commerce or being purposely planted. They supple- 

 ment a number of native grasses, some of which are of value as food for stock. 

 Among the more important indigenous grasses should be mentioned the native 

 manienie,^" the kukaepuaa ■''"' and the pili,^" which grow generally over the 

 group to 4500 feet elevation. The latter, while very good pasturage for horses 

 and cattle, is not as good for sheep, for, like the piipii,*'* a common grass on 

 open dry plains and slopes, it bears sharp, stiff' awns about the seeds that get 

 entangled in the animals" wool. 



Most of the fcn-egoing grazing grasses are being rapidly crowded out by 

 the rank-growing, worthless Hilo gra.ss,'''' which is not eaten by animals. It 

 appeared about 18-10 in the district of Hilo, having been brought to the islands 

 in some unknown way. jiresinnably from tropical America. The edges of its 

 coarse leaves are rough to the touch, and the stem ends in two slender spikes, 

 three to five inches in length. A closely related species ■"' has from three to 

 six alternate spikes and is common in swampy ground in heavy soil. It was 

 used by the Hawaiiaus to some extent as a tliatch. The mischief done hy Hilo 

 grass is an example of the damage that may be brought about through the 

 introduction. i)uri)osely or otherwise, of uudesii-abic plants or animals. 



Weeds. 



Space is too limited foi- an extended list of imported plant pests affecting 

 the farmer and ranchnum. l)ut a number of undesirable species have been 

 introduced and have ])i-ospered in Hawaii. Among them are the common pur- 



,I„rl„l,.„. 'i Mediraffo salica. '- Trifolium. "■' rai,i,;,in maxima. 



Mnii, 35 ^tenolaphrum. *•* Pariicum pruriens, 



Aiulropoffon) contortus. ^^ C'hrt/nopoffon acifulatiis. ^^ Pns/mluni conjtitjdht 



*" I'astKiliiiii "iliiritlarie. 



