32 



BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



No. 30. PASPALUM CONJUGATUM {fi,p.l78) 

 Common name: Hilo grass 



Hilo grass is a native of tropical America and grows in the Tropics 

 of both hemispheres (6, p. 179). It appeared in Hawaii near Hilo 

 about 1840, and is now widely scattered over all the islands from sea 



Figure 30. — Paspalum conjugation 



level to about 4,000 feet. It is a perennial, erect, 1 to 2 feet tall, and 

 spreads rapidly by means of creeping stems. It is primarily a wet- 

 district grass, and in such areas will grow well on poor, sour soils on 

 which other grasses fail. Hilo grass is not well thought of where 

 other grasses will grow. Ordinarily it is regarded as only a mainte- 

 nance grass, but on rich soils it will produce good feed when kept 

 closely grazed. It has been a good emergency crop for the Parker 

 ranch in times of drought. In many places ranchmen are replacing 

 Hilo grsss with the superior carpet grass. 



