24 



BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



No. 22. HOLCUS LANATUS, NOTHOLCUS LANATUS (6, p. 146) 

 Common names: Velvet grass, mesquite, Yorkshire fog 



Velvet grass was originally described from Europe (6, p. 1J+7). It 

 grows in the higher regions of various parts of Europe, the United 

 States, and Australia, and was collected on Hawaii as early as 1903. 

 It persists under dry conditions and will withstand frosts so severe as 

 to kill many other lands of grass. In Hawaii it is found growing 

 mostly above the 3,000 feet elevation on the Parker and the Puu Oo 



Figure 22.— Holcus lanatus 



ranches, but at the Kukaiau ranch it grows at an elevation of 2,000 

 feet. Velvet grass is an erect perennial 1 to 2 feet tall. Its stems and 

 leaves are soft and velvety, and are covered with fine hairs which 

 gather moisture from the air and thus aid the plant in withstanding 

 drought. 



There is much difference of opinion on the value of velvet grass. In 

 Australia and in the States of Washington and Oregon it is regarded 

 as a weed. On Hawaii, however, it is considered an excellent grass. 

 It is a heavy yielder. Cattle fatten readily on it when it is coming into 

 flower. It will not withstand as close grazing as will bluegrass or 

 carpet grass. 



