36 



BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



No. 34. PASPALUM ORBICULARE (6, p. 178) 

 Common name: Rice grass 



Rice grass was originally described from the Society Islands {6, p. 

 179-181), and was found growing on Oahu as early as 1895. It is 

 perennial, erect, and attains a height of 3% feet. It grows well where 



Figure H.—Paspalum orbiculare 



other grasses fail on pahoehoe lands and similar poor, thin soils. Usu- 

 ally it is of low feeding value. In some places the old growth of rice 

 grass is burned off to induce new growth, which is relished by cattle. 

 Results of a fertilizer test at Waipahoehoe, Hawaii, indicated that 

 fertilization increases the palatability of the grass. Some ranchmen 

 prefer it to carpet grass, but usually it is given a much lower rating 

 than carpet grass. 



