RANGE GRASSES OF HAWAII 



23 



No. 21. HETEROPOGON CONTORTUS (6, p. 220), ANDROPOGON CONTORTUS 

 Common names: Pili grass, twisted beardgrass 



Pili grass, a tropical perennial originally described from India (6, p. 

 221), was found growing on Kauai as early as 1895. It usually thrives 

 best at the lower levels. It grows 20 to 40 inches tall and has a tan- 



Figure 21. — Heteropogon contortus 



gled, bearded head. It is very palatable when young and in the drier 

 regions is relished by cattle even when thoroughly dry. It is fre- 

 quently uprooted by cattle and -will not withstand continuous grazing. 

 It is also crowded out by such plants as Hilo grass and Bermuda grass. 

 Eragrostis atropioides, also called pili grass, is a coarse grass of little 

 value as feed, growing usually at levels above 4,000 feet and spreading 

 by scaly, creeping underground stems. 



