Hitchcock — 'llic Ci'rasscs of I lai^'aii 103 



The most characteristic species of lee side slopes and plains here are several 

 annual sorts of I'anicuni, such as P. forriduiii, P. bccclicvi, P. nubigenum, and 

 P. lanaioise. These are all annuals that spring up abundantly after the winter 

 rains. The Hawaiian name for these is kakonakona. 



On dry rocky slopes such as the sides of J'unch liowl in Honolulu is found 

 Heteropogon contort us, a common useful native perennial. The Hawaiian name is 

 pili grass. It was used by the natives to thatch their huts (I'l. XXXI, A.) and is, 

 furthermore, a good forage grass. It extends over much of the drier region of the 

 Hawaiian islands and formerly occupied much of the land now in cultivation. 



Grasses are practically absent from the deep forest. Oplisiiieiiiis hirtcllits 

 is a shade grass found in the mountains where the shade is not too deep. It is a 

 creeping grass with lanceolate thin blades conspicuously different from the ordinarv 

 long, narrow leaves of most grasses. The native name is honohono, which is also 

 applied to a common species of Commelina. Isacliiic clisticliophylla (fig. 92) is 

 found in somewhat open woods. It is frequent in the vicinity of the Crater Hotel 

 near Kilauea. The other species, /. pallciis, is found on wet rocks, as in the vicinity 

 of waterfalls. Paniciini kaalacnse (fig. 80), a robust species, is found on the 

 forested slopes of Mt. Kaala and in similar situations. A characteristic grass of 

 dry woods is Eragrostis grandis, a robvist species in large bunches, i to 1.5 meters 

 tall. It is found, for example, on the wooded slopes of the mountains west of 

 Schofield Barracks. Paiiiciuji iicphclopliilinn, P. tciiiiifolitini, and P. xcropJiiluui 

 are also found in dry open woods. 



The dominant grass on many of the ridges of the foothills behind Honolulu 

 is Bragrostis variabilis. This species is common on the grassy slopes at the Nuuanu 

 Pah (PI. XXXI, B). 



An extensive plain lies between Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and the Hualalai 

 Mountains on the island of Hawaii. The dominant grasses are Eragrostis atropi- 

 oides and E. lepfophylla. They form erect tufts over large areas. 



Toward the upper limit of \-egetation on the high mountains of Hawaii, 

 above timber line and extending down into the upper open forest, are three common 

 species of grasses, Trisctuiii gloiiicratiiiii, Agrostis saudwicciisis, and Aira iiiibigciia 

 (PI. XXXII). 



The open bogs are peculiar and interesting formations found at or near the 

 summits of mountains that rise to the height of approximately 5000 feet. These 

 bogs are described by Professor Rock in his admirable book, "The Indigenous Trees 

 of the Hawaiian Islands." They are found on Kauai, Molokai, and West Maui, 

 and also on the Kohala Mountains of Hawaii, but are absent from the higher 

 mountains of that island. 



The bogs are devoid of trees, and also of shrubs of any considerable height, 

 though there may be islands or intrusions of woody plants. Many of the species 

 are tussock-forming, a conspicuous one being Orcobohts fiircatiis, a sedge. There 

 are two common tussock-forming grasses, Patiiciini iiiibricatiiiu and P. isaclnioidcs. 

 Other grasses found in these bogs are Agrostis fallax, Calaiiiagrostis hiUcbrand- 

 iana, C. cxpansa. Paiiiciiiii Itillcbraudianum, and Aira niibigciia. The last men- 



rsi 



