RANGE GRASSES OF HAWAII 



47 



No. 45. SORGHUM VULGARE SUDANENSE, HOLCUS SORGHUM SUDANENSIS, 

 AND ROPO G ON SORGHUM SUDANENSIS (10, p. 37) 



Common name: Sudan grass 



Sudan grass (10, p. 36) is cultivated in the warmer regions of both 

 hemispheres. It is annual or perennial and 3 to 7 feet tall. Although 

 making its best growth at lower levels it will grow at relatively high 

 altitudes. It is as drought resistant as the best varieties of sorghums. 

 In regions of low rainfall and high temperature its carrying capacity 



Figure 45.— Sorghum vulgare sudanense 



during the summer is said to exceed that of any other grass or legume. 

 It is also well adapted to irrigated regions. It is valuable as cut feed 

 and also as pasturage if rested at intervals. The grass recovers 

 rapidly after having been cut and produces heavily throughout the 

 year. Sudan grass resembles Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) in 

 appearance, but has broader and more numerous leaves and no under- 

 ground stems. So far as is known, Johnson grass is not used in Hawaii 

 either for pasture or for cut feed, but grows along the roadsides in many 

 places. Although about equal in value to Sudan grass, Johnson grass 

 is not recommended because of its underground stems, which make its 

 eradication from cultivated fields difficult. 



