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Dissochondrus biflorus

(Hillebr.) Kuntze ex Hack. (1897)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Dissochondrus

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Tall perennials.

Stems: Culms erect, tufted, nodes pubescent to villous. 60-120 cm tall, compressed, branching intravaginally above base.

Roots: Roots fibrous.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades flat, lanceolate, firm, 15-30 cm long, 1-2 cm wide Apex long-acuminate. Upper surfaces glabrous; lower surfaces scabrous. Margins scaberulous toward apex. Veins parallel. Sheaths compressed-keeled, prolonged at apex into 2 membranous with large, leaf-like deciduous auricles up to 6 cm long. Sheaths open, glabrous, loosely enclosing the culm, scabrous and puberulent, collar villous; ligule rounded to truncate, 1- Stipules absent.

Flowers: Inflorescences paniculate, narrow, cylindrical, spike-like, 10-20 cm long, somewhat loosely flowered with spacing between branches greater toward base; branches short, appressed, the axis puberulent, solitary bristles usually present below each spikelet, the bristles green, 5-10 mm long, flexuous, antrorsely scabrous. Spikelets 2-flowered, first floret slightly larger, 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous, apex acute, florets ovate to ovate-lanceolate, subtended by a single persistent bristle (a modified branchlet), awnless; glumes membranous, first glume broad, ca. 1/4 as long as the spikelet, 0.8-1.5 mm long, 1/4-1/3 as long as florets, puberulent, faintly 0-3-nerved, apex obtuse; second glume longer than the 2 florets, 2.5-3.5 mm long, extending beyond the florets, 5-nerved, puberulent, apex acute. Florets cartilaginous, perfect, ovate to narrowly ovate. Lemmas cartilaginous, indurate, smooth, nerveless, margins inrolled over the floret; planoconvex, ca. 2 mm long, yellowish to white, coriaceous, glossy, apex minutely puberulent; palea similar to lemma in color and texture, flat, ovate, ca.2 mm long, apex apiculate; palea cartilaginous. Stamens 3.

Fruit: Caryopsis glabrous; lenticular; remaining enclosed within the floret; the pair produced in each spikelet contiguous; inner faces flat.

Ploidy: 2n = 36

Habitat: Occurring on slopes; mainly in diverse mesic forest.

Elevation Range: 490–1,050 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Endemic
O'ahu Endemic
Molokai Endemic
Lana'i Endemic
Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: H.G.A.Engler & K.A.E.Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., Nachtr. 1: 41 (1897)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1534 (K, O, Mo, L, M, H); Faccenda 2023c:140 (KEY); Faccenda 2025b:117 (K† 1973, L† 1871, H† 1911)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Dissochondrus biflorus middle Palawai Ridge Wet, rich jungle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10671 Oahu BISH 1936-05-12
2 Dissochondrus biflorus S Ekahanui Jungly moist forested slope. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10767 Oahu BISH 1936-04-21
3 Dissochondrus biflorus Waianae Mts, Pahole Gulch, 1 ridge over from DH 5363 On steep, more-or-less bare slopes in shaded, dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5362 Oahu BISH 1975-06-15
4 Dissochondrus biflorus Waianae Kai-Makaha divide, near Pinnacle Rock Forested slopes. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 2104 Oahu BISH 1985-03-31
5 Dissochondrus biflorus East Maui, Makawao Forest Reserve, on W slope of Kahakapao Gulch In understory of Koa mixed forest. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2013 Maui BISH 1984-03-07
6 Dissochondrus biflorus On steep, N facing slope of Mahanaloa Valley Growing on shaded, more-or-less bare soil. Preserved_Specimen Culms 90 cm tall. Herbst, D.R. 2986 Kauai BISH 1973-04-18
7 Dissochondrus biflorus Waianae Mts, Pahole Gulch, 1 ridge over from DH 5352 On steep, more-or-less bare slopes in shaded, dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5363 Oahu BISH 1975-06-15
8 Dissochondrus biflorus Waianae Mts, Mokuleia Forest Reserve, Pahole Gulch On steep, more-or-less bare slopes in light to medium shade. Preserved_Specimen Plants 3.5-4 ft tall, somewhat decumbent. Herbst, D.R. 3035 Oahu BISH 1973-07-08
9 Dissochondrus biflorus W Maui, Lahaina District, leeward slope of Helu, in gulch at Puehuehunui 13 plants scattered near gulch bottom. Associated vegetation: Metrosideros, Nestegis, Melicope, Myrsine, Coprosma, Sadleria, Microlepia, Cyrtomium, Coniogramme, Dryopteris, Remya, Dodonaea, Leptecophylla, Carex. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 60628 Maui BISH 2006-06-21
10 Dissochondrus biflorus Land section of Makakupaia, Kupaia Gulch, N bank Situated on a rocky streamside bank in scrubby rainforest under the cover of taller shrubs. Assoc. with Dodonaea, Nephrolepis, Coprosma, Alyxia, Styphelia, Dryopteris. Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 1455 Molokai BISH 1985-09-24
11 Dissochondrus biflorus Mahanaloa Valley on steep, north-facing slopes; shaded. Not common. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2905 Kauai BISH 1973-03-13
12 Dissochondrus biflorus middle Palawai Ridge Wet, rich jungle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10671 Oahu BISH 1936-05-12
13 Dissochondrus biflorus Near Puu Hapapa On rocky embankments near Schinus thicket. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, G. Oahu BISH 1979-01-01
14 Dissochondrus biflorus W Maui, Mananainui Plant Sactuary, lower Hanaula On slopes of julch in damp semi-shady sites. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1051 Maui BISH 1981-04-16
15 Dissochondrus biflorus Southwest of Peacock flats, Mokuleia. West ledge in partial sun Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28194 Oahu BISH 1962-04-23
16 Dissochondrus biflorus On steep slope of small gulch SW of Puu Kolekole About 12 clumps growing beneath Metrosideros, Dodonaea, Psychotria, Pleomele, Styphelia, and Lysimachia in dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 809 Molokai BISH 1982-05-24
17 Dissochondrus biflorus Makaleha Ridge Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 17081 Oahu BISH 1918-04-01
18 Dissochondrus biflorus Gully SE of Puu Kolekole On bank of dry stream bed in remnant drt forest of `ohi`a, olopua, hame, pilo, na`ena`e, and pukiawe. Preserved_Specimen Grass about 2 1/2' tall in clumps. Cuddihy, L.W. 1157 Molokai BISH 1982-05-24
19 Dissochondrus biflorus Near Laianui [sp?] Edge of rain forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9155 Molokai BISH 1928-05-18
20 Dissochondrus biflorus Waianae Mts, Honouliuli, N Palawai Gulch, N facing slope In Acacia koa-Metrosideros lowland mesic forest with Bidens, Eragrostis, Dubautia sherffiana, Viola, Claoxylon, Dianella, Passiflora suberosa, Clidemia, Vaccinium, Dubautia plantaginea, Pittosporum, Psychotria, Scaevola. Preserved_Specimen With fruit. Perlman, S. 6167 Oahu BISH 1987-07-12
21 Dissochondrus biflorus Schofield Barracks Military Reservation, Wahiawa, Waianae Mt Range, N of Puu Kumakalii On steep slopes. Mixed mesic forest (dry) vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 880 Oahu BISH 1977-02-06
22 Dissochondrus biflorus middle Palawai Ridge Wet, rich jungle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10671 Oahu BISH 1936-05-12
23 Dissochondrus biflorus Slopes of Puu Kolekole Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 219 Molokai BISH 1912-07-01
24 Dissochondrus biflorus Mokuleia, slopes of Kaala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1803 Oahu BISH 1912-04-26
25 Dissochondrus biflorus Makaleha Ridge Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 17081 Oahu BISH 1918-04-01
26 Dissochondrus biflorus On steep slope of small gulch SW of Puu Kolekole Growing beneath Metrosideros, Dodonaea, Psychotria, Pleomele, Styphelia, & Lysimachia in dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 809 Molokai BISH 1982-05-24
27 Dissochondrus biflorus Olowalu Valley, right hand side of ridge Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2473 Maui BISH 1920-05-23
28 Dissochondrus biflorus Waianae Mts, Houliuli Forest Reserve, Ekahanui Gulch Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5259 Oahu BISH 1975-03-16
29 Dissochondrus biflorus W Maui, Hanaula Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 380 Maui BISH 1983-06-18
30 Dissochondrus biflorus Puuwaawaa Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Hawaii BISH 1911-06-08
31 Dissochondrus biflorus Small gulch SW of Puu Kolekole About 12 clumps growing beneath Metrosideros, Dodonaea, Psychotria, Pleomele, Styphelia, and Lysimachia in dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Clumping grass. Davis, J. 809 Molokai BISH 1982-05-24
32 Dissochondrus biflorus Halemanu Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Kauai BISH 1929-04-30
33 Dissochondrus biflorus unknown Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. BISH 1932-09-19
34 Dissochondrus biflorus Honouliuli, Waianae Mts. N fork of valley E of Palikea Stream bank, thicket. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10357 Oahu BISH 1930-02-23
35 Dissochondrus biflorus Near Laianui [sp?] Edge of rain forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9155 Molokai BISH 1928-05-18
36 Dissochondrus biflorus Upper Onini Gulch Growing beneath Metrosideros, Dodonaea, Coprosma, Wikstroemia, Osmanthus, & Antidesma. Also growing with Alyxia, Osteomeles, Panicum molokaiense, Asplenium kaulfussii. On fairly steep slope ca. 30 ft above streambed. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 857 Molokai BISH 1982-05-28
37 Dissochondrus biflorus Left fork of Manawainui Gulch Growing on shaded, bare soil on a steep, NE facing slope. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 3022 Maui BISH 1973-05-24
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