RANGE GRASSES OF HAWAII 



27 



No. 25. MEUNIS MINUTIFLORA (9, p. 1032) 

 Common names: Molasses grass, Brazilian stink grass 



Molasses grass or Brazilian stink grass (9, p. 1033) is a" native of 

 Africa and is also found growing in South America. It was intro- 

 duced into Hawaii in 1914. It has not been adopted to any great ex- 

 tent except on Lanai, where it thrives in the wet districts and stands 



Figure 25. — Melinis minutifloTa 



up well during dry weather. Molasses grass is a perennial and spreads 

 out in a mass by means of prostrate stems. Opinions as to its palata- 

 bility differ greatly. Some ranchmen and dairymen regard it as pal- 

 atable and nutritious, whereas others state that cattle will not eat it. 

 This difference of opinion is due to the fact that cattle are slow to 

 acquire a liking for it. After they acquire the taste, however, they 

 eat the grass readily and fatten on it. Molasses grass will not with- 

 stand continuous grazing, but recovers quickly upon being rested. 



