29 



distinguished from other grasses. Sudan grass is not easily distin- 

 guished from Tunis grass. It grows more rapidly at first, has broader 

 leaves, and is a better feed. 



Andropogon sorghum var., Tunis grass (PL VII, fig. 2, b), is very 

 similar to the Sudan grass, but has longer narrow panicles, and sheds 

 its seed very readily. It has the same good points as Sudan grass ; 

 but to a less degree. 



LEGUMINOUS FORAGE PLANTS. 



The leaves of leguminous trees furnish some grazing, particularly 

 for cattle. The koa and mamani at higher elevations are the principal 

 trees with forage value. At lower elevations and upon leeward sides 

 the kiawe is very important. It is more fully described below. The 

 leaves of the shrub known as koahaole are eaten by cattle and horses, 

 but are said to cause the failing of hair from mane and tail of horses. 

 Weedy plants, like the inikoa and the auhuhu, have some forage value. 



Of the smaller plants, the white clover, hop clover, Indian clover, 

 and bur clover are very valuable at higher elevations and are becom- 

 ing more widespread. Spanish clover thrives at medium and low 

 elevations but occurs only as isolated plants. The related species, 

 Desmodium triflorum, occurs more thickly; it is a small creeping 

 cloverlike plant having purple flowers and thrives well with manienie 

 or pihpiliula. The black medic (having yellow flowers and some- 

 times used medicinally by the Hawaii ans) is also widely distributed. 

 Japan clover or lespedeza, which has proved valuable in the Southern 

 States, has so far failed under Hawaiian conditions, although tried by 

 several experimenters. Fenugreek grows well but does not reseed 

 itself and soon disappears. Crimson clover, Egyptian clover, and 

 red clover thrive under certain conditions but have little value on the 

 range. Alfalfa thrives in certain places, but when once established 

 is considered too valuable for pasturage, although it is excellent for 

 this purpose, particularly for hogs and horses. The following table 

 shows the principal native and introduced leguminous forage plants 

 of Hawaii: 



Leguminous forage plants. 



Botanical name. 



Common name. 



Hawaiian name. 



Remarks. 



Acacia koa. 



Koa. 



Cytisus proliferus 1 



Desmodium tortuosum* . . . 



Desmodium triflorum 



Desmodium uncinatum 



Dolichos lablqb 



Hedysarum coronarium 1 . . 



Indigofera anil 



Lespedeza striata > 



Tagosaste, tree lucem. 

 Florida beggarweed. . . 



Spanish clover . 



Spanish sulla. 



Indigo 



Japan clover . 



Kikania pilipili, Pua 



pilipili, ihi, ilioha. 

 Papapa 



Inikoa . 



Leaves are eaten by 

 cattle. 



Widely distributed an- 

 nual. 

 Rare on ranges. 



Has some fprage value. 



Plants which have been introduced but are not naturalized. Some have disappeared. 



