48 BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



No. 46. SPOROBOLUS BERTEKOANUS 

 Common name: Rattail grass 



Rattail grass, originally described from Australia (6, p. 157-159), 

 is an erect, tufted perennial, 2 to 3 feet tall. It is found growing on 

 a considerable area of pasture land over the Territory of Hawaii. 



Figure 46. — Sporobolus berteroanus 



Rattail grass is generally regarded as low in feeding value, although 

 in certain parts of Kona and Maui the fresh growth is used in fatten- 

 ing. It serves as a maintenance grass in dry weather, and will grow 

 on lands failing to support better grasses. A smaller species, S. 

 diander, has a branched, paniclelike seed head and fine, narrow leaves. 

 It has medium feeding value. 



