RANGE GRASSES OF HAWAII 



19 



No. 17. DIGITARIA VIOLASCENS, D. CfflNENSIS, SYNTHERISMA CfflNENSIS, S. HELLERI 



(6, p. 172) 



Common names: Crabgrass, kukaipuaa 



Digitaria violascens was originally described from China (6, p. 173). 

 In Hawaii it is distributed over all the islands to elevations of 

 more than 5,000 feet. It is an annual with erect or semierect stems. 

 Locally, Digitaria violascens, D. pruriens, and D. sanguinalis are 



Figure 17. — Digitaria violascens 



classed under the common name of "kukaipuaa." D. molascens differs 

 from the other two species in that under similar conditions it is much 

 smaller. It forms a small, dense clump and does not root at the 

 nodes. It grows well among other grasses and withstands continu- 

 ous grazing much better than do the other two species. It forms 

 an appreciable part of the grass population on many ranches, although 

 because of its size it is rather inconspicuous. It does well on poor 

 soils and is very palatable. 



