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BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



culture and fertilization have been factors contributing to changes in 

 the grass population. 



This bulletin discusses the more important grasses growing on local 

 ranges, their growth in other parts of the world, nature of growth, 

 palatability, persistence, climatic requirements, and present impor- 

 tance and possibilities for Hawaii. 



DESCRIPTION OF GRASSES 



The grasses described were tested by the station at the University 

 of Hawaii, Manoa Valley (100 feet elevation, 28 inches of rainfall 

 annually), the Pensacola Street station (150 feet elevation, 40 inches 

 of rainfall annually), the Parker ranch at Kamuela, Hawaii (2,600 feet 

 elevation, 45 inches of rainfall annually, and cool, moist climate), and 

 the Parker ranch at Keamoku (2,700 feet elevation, 15 inches of rain- 

 fall annually, and windy, dry climate). 



For the sake of convenience each grass is treated separately. In 

 nearly all instances the grass is pictured under actual field conditions, 

 and a drawing is given showing the root systems, the methods of 

 stooling or spreading, and, with some exceptions, a single flower 

 enlarged. 



Numerous grasses have more than one botanical name each. This 

 is because changes have been made in their botanical nomencla- 

 ture from time to time. The so-called synonyms should enable the 

 reader to know readily what grass is referred to, regardless of which 

 name is given in other publications. The botanical name first given 

 is the preferred one. The common names by which a grass is known 

 may be misleading. For example, nearly every district has a "bunch 

 grass," a "bluestem grass," a "wire grass," and a "rattail grass." 

 In another district these names may be used for entirely different 

 species. Some of the more widely distributed grasses, such as Ber- 

 muda grass, may have a score of local names. In this bulletin only 

 such names as are used locally or are in common use elsewhere are 

 given. 



The dates on which some of the species were introduced into Hawaii 

 are not definitely known. Some species may have been brought in 

 with the seed of other species, or in baled hay or imported grain. In 

 the absence of definite information on date of introduction, the date 

 of the first collection of the grass in the Territory is recorded in order 

 that some approximate idea of its length of time there may be had. 

 For the sake of brevity, all details as to source of information have 

 been omitted from this bulletin. 



