162 
for transfer. The plant is related to E.palustris, 
but that natural group has the spikelet with 
2-3 sterile basal scales. Since the Hawaiian 
plant has, like E. calva, the single basal scale, 
the similar linear-lanceoloid spikes, the simi- 
lar shaped achene and style base, and promi- 
nent red basal sheaths, it appears to be most 
closely related to that species. The differences 
between the two are tabulated a few pages 
back. When evaluated, these morphological 
differences are of some significance, but in 
the subseries Palustres with its variable or 
merging taxa distributed well around the 
northern hemisphere, the best method of 
classification seems the ultraconservative. It 
is concluded that the Hawaiian plant is a 
local, endemic variety, allied to E. calva, and 
best placed as a variety of it. Hence, the com- 
bination for it as a variety of that species is 
here made. 
Now that abundant and complete material 
of this plant from Oahu and Niihau is at 
hand, it is possible to tabulate its characters, 
and re-evaluate its distinctions. Knowing the 
high endemism in the Hawaiian flora (92 per 
cent or more), one could easily take the view 
that with any clear differences, this plant 
could well be classed as an endemic Hawaiian 
species. It was collected as early as 1825 when 
there were few adventives present. It has been 
collected five times since then. Though it is 
not common, it must be remembered that it 
is a lowland plant of fresh marshy habitats. 
Most of the collections on Oahu were in 
present or former cultivated lands — taro 
patches. It was thus a weed in the taro patch. 
Most weeds are adventives, but in wet culti- 
vations the percentage of native plants per- 
sisting in the taro patch, cranberry bog, or 
rice paddy is much higher than in dry land 
agricultural fields. On Niihau it was not in 
agricultural land, but by the edge of a small 
lake on the coastal plain bordering the moun- 
tainous upland. Flood waters make a lake 
that may last for several months, then for the 
remainder of the year the spot is parched and 
completely dry and alkaline. There is no taro 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XIII, April, 1959 
cultivation anywhere in the vicinity. From the 
habitat and the manner of its occurrence, it 
seemed to the collector to be a native plant 
on Niihau. It may also be a native of Oahu, 
persisting only in existing or former taro 
patches. On a small island like Oahu, with a 
large population depending on taro as the 
basic crop, nearly all natural fresh ponds and 
swamps were converted into taro patches. 
Also, almost every lowland alluvial spot to 
which irrigation water could be conducted, 
was made into a taro patch. Thus, even in 
aboriginal times, the swampy habitats, natu- 
ral to Eleocharis, were converted to intensively 
cultivated taro patches. Since the discovery 
and westernization of the islands, these lands 
on Oahu have in part been used continually 
as taro patches, but in recent times more 
largely occupied for sugar cane plantations or 
for house lots. The Eleocharis is now rare on 
Oahu, but well preserved on Niihau, and 
visible there for a few months after heavy 
southerly winter rains. 
It is also significant that the deep red basal 
sheaths were gathered by the native Hawaiians 
on Niihau and plaited to form ornamental 
geometrical patterns, mostly small triangles, 
near the border of the pliant, fine mats called 
"pawehe” to distinguish them from the pure 
white ones called "makaloa,” made solely of 
the stems of Cyperus laevigatus and lacking the 
red, ornamental inlay. It appears that the 
‘'pawehe” mats were made only on Niihau. 
Aylmer F. Robinson wrote (in a letter of July 
26, 1952), 'T believe the art is very old, and 
indigenous, though right now I do not think 
of any proof of it.” There are in the Bishop 
Museum several of these mats, but none of 
the older ones are definitely dated. One was 
probably made at least as long ago as early in 
the 19th century. Hence, from the early oc- 
currence on Oahu and Niihau, from the ar- 
tistic use in fine matting by the natives, and 
from its distinctive morphology, it is con- 
cluded that Eleocharis calva var. australis is a 
variety endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. 
Since it has not been illustrated, and since 
