american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

as a pasture grass and sometimes escaping in distur-
bed places and roadsides, reported only from the
lowlands. A modern introduction, native to tropical
Asia. Whistler 3 10, 3 13,375.
lschaemum murinum Forst. f.
Small clump-forming grass with awned spikelets
borne in paired spikes. Occasional to locally
common on rocky shores, reported only near the
coast. Indigenous, also found in Tonga and Niue.
USEE s.n.; Garber 806; Whistler 291 1, 8072, 8409,
841 1,8417,8429,8564!, 8684!.
"Ischaemum sp.
Tall grass with awned spikelets in a long pair of
spikes. Uncommon in the montane scrub of Mata-
fao and Le Pioa Mountains of Tutuila, reported from
ca. 450-650 m elevation. Endemic to Tutuila?
Setchell 405?; Christophersen 3545; Whistler 5704,
91 82. This species has not been identified with
certainty yet, but was reported by Setchell to have
been introduced by Mrs. Robert Louis
Stevenson-which is doubtful.
"Lepturopetium sp.
Small grass with a pair of terminal spikes with
embedded spikelets. Rare on coastal rocks, reported
only on the coast at the east end of the island. Two
species have been named in this recently recognized
genus, but these may be formed from an inter-
generic hybrid (Fosberg, pers. comm.). Probably
indigenous, the same as or similar to other indivi-
duals found on several other tropical Pacific islands.
Whistler 5728, 8395.
Lcpturus repens (Forst. f.) R. Br.
Small grass with narrow leaves and spikelets em-
bedded in a corky rachis. Common on rocky and
sandy sea coasts, reported only along the coast.
Indigenous, ranging from Ceylon to Hawai'i. USEE
s.n. (n.s.); Setchell415; Whistler 2852, 8565!.
"Melinus minutiflora Beauv.
Tall, hairy, strong-smelling grass with a dense
panicle of awned spikelets. Uncommon in disturbed
places or perhaps just escaping from pastures,
reported only from the lowlands. A modem intro-
duction, native to Africa. Whistler 5729
"Microstegium glabratum (Brongn.) A. Camus
Small grass with several unjointed racemes of long-
awned spikelets. Uncommon in montane forest,
reported from 150 to 450 m elevation. Probably a
recent introduction, but indigenous from the
Philippines to Tahiti. Whistler 9193.
Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb.
Tall grass with large plumose inflorescence bearing
silky, windborne spikelets. Common in sunny
places in the lowlands and on fernlands, reported
from near sea level to 100 m elevation. Indigenous,
ranging from at least Micronesia to eastern Poly-
nesia. Setchell 252; Eames T19; Garber 793;
Whistler 1448, 9109!.
Oplismenus compositus (L.) Beauv.
Medium-sized grass with awned spikelets on several
branches from the rachis. Common in disturbed
shady places, reported from near sea level to 1750 m
elevation. Probably a Polynesian introduction, now
pantropic in distribution. USEE s.n. (n.s.); Wisner
60; Whistler 8475, 8586!, 8719!, 9141.
Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) Beauv.
[basket grass]
Small grass with awned spikelets in short clusters on
the rachis. Common in shady lowland forest and
disturbed areas, reported from near sea level to 250
m elevation. Probably a Polynesian introduction,
native perhaps from Australia to Southeast Asia.
Long 3079; Whistler 2897, 8509!, 8728!, 9199.
Paspalum conjugatum Bergius
[T- grass] vaolima
Creeping grass with flat, round spikelets on a pair of
spreading, terminal inflorescence branches. Com-
mon to abundant in sunny disturbed places, reported
from near sea level to 740 m elevation. A modern
introduction, native to tropical America. Setchell
550; Eames T25; Garber 964; Whistler 8912!.
"Paspalurn dilatatum Poiret
Erect grass with several spreading panicle branches
bearing 2 rows of flattened, round, hairy spikelets.
Uncommon in disturbed places, reported only from
the lowlands. A modern introduction, native to
South America. Sykes 75.