19 



from this grass at such times. The name orchard grass was applied 

 to it because of its general use in orchards. It makes an excellent 

 nurse crop for Paspalum dilatatum. It spreads chiefly from seed 

 and is easily crowded out by Hilo grass, especially when closely grazed. 



Lolium perenne, perennial rye grass, is rarely perennial in Hawaii. 

 It is adapted to the higher pastures (4,000 to 6,500 feet), where it 

 furnishes good grazing. It will withstand any amount of treading 

 and grazing, but dies out gradually in periods of drought. At 

 medium elevations it would likely prove a good nurse crop for Pas- 

 palum dilatatum. It is recommended for all mixtures for permanent 

 pastures. 



Bromus unioloides, rescue grass, Australian prairie grass, Schraders 

 brome grass, is classed as a perennial, but becomes annual under 

 unfavorable conditions. It grows well at lower elevations only 

 during the cooler months, but seeds abundantly, and young plants 

 are found the following year. However, it makes its best growth 

 at higher elevations with lower temperatures. It is not injured by 

 frost and is valuable near the frost line on the mountain pastures 

 of Hawaii. It is shallow rooted, and large clumps are easily up- 

 rooted by live stock, but under continual grazing or when in mix- 

 tures with other grasses, this objection is not so great. At medium 

 elevations on the Parker ranch isolated patches of this grass may 

 be seen, single small seed heads appearing a few inches above the 

 Bermuda sod. It is reported to have crowded out several thousand 

 acres of manienie in the last 28 years in the vicinity of Wood's 

 ranch, Kohala, Hawaii. According to the analysis its nutritive value 

 is very high. 



Karteria glomerata, mountain pili, is the principal indigenous grass 

 occurring at high elevations. It is found covering large areas on 

 the higher lands of Parker's, Hind's, Shipman's, and other ranches 

 of Hawaii. Rock states that he has found it at elevations above 

 8,000 feet, and that it is about the last species observed in ascending 

 the mountains. 1 



Calamagrostis forsteri, heupuueo, is an annual, appearing at ele- 

 vations above 2,000 feet following the rainy season. During the 

 dry season, or after the seed has fallen, the dry, naked, open panicle 

 becomes conspicuous. These empty panicles, driven by the wind, 

 often collect in strawlike masses at the base of guava or other 

 shrubs. The feeding value is fairly high; the grass is palatable and 

 nutritious. It remains green for but a few months. This grass is 

 quite widely distributed. 



Festuca myurus, rat-tail fescue, occurs at elevations of 2,000 feet 

 and above. The seed heads are conspicuous when standing out 

 above the manienie or pilipiliula sod. The leaf is narrow and 



1 Rock, J. F. The Indigenous Trees of the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu, 1913, p. 47. 



