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Setaria palmifolia

(J.Koenig) Stapf (1914)

This name is accepted

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

palmgrass

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

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

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Wind

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 42: 186 (1914)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1592 (O, L, M, H); Staples et al. 2003:18 (K); Staples & Herbst 2005:742/Faccenda 2023c:140 (KEY); Oppenheimer 2006:13 (Mo); Lori Buchanan pers. comm. 2025 (Mo†, 2021)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Lyon Arboretum Common in moist open woods. Preserved_Specimen Perennial, tufted grass; the somewhat lax flowering culms may reach a height of ca. 5 ft.; lower parts of plant bear irritating bristles. Herbst, D.R. 622 Oahu BISH 1967-09-25
2 Setaria palmifolia ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District Found growing on the side of the old railroad. Preserved_Specimen ESP Field Crew Hawaii BISH 1979-08-15
3 Setaria palmifolia 100 yards S of entrance to Lava Tree State Park In rocky, cinder substrate along roadside, under Albizia. Preserved_Specimen Grass to 1 m. Leaves like miniature palm fronds, hairy. Teraoka, W. 101 Hawaii BISH 1979-08-14
4 Setaria palmifolia Hanalei District. Hanakoa Valley, along main trail. Secondary forest of invasive species with Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava, Blechnum occidentale, Kalanchoe pinnata, Rubus rosifolius, Pluchea carolinensis, Setaria gracilis Preserved_Specimen Grass, 1+ metr tall, invasive along trail, many hundreds. Wood, K.R. 16502 Kauai BISH 2015-06-24
5 Setaria palmifolia Hanalei Distr., Pilaa ahupuaa, near coast adjacent to Pohaku Malumalu Open slope adjacent to small stream, covered with various alien grasses, vines, and shrubs, including Sphagneticola trilobata, Mimosa pudica, Stachytarpheta, Digitaria insularis, Neonotonia wightii. Preserved_Specimen Common grass. First naturalized voucher from Kauai. Imada, C. 200173 Kauai BISH 2001-09-28
6 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Round Top, near Tantalus Rd. above old Castle home mauka limit of haole koa zone. Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37328 Oahu BISH 1937-04-07
7 Setaria palmifolia Mount Tantalus, near Half-way Station Open woods. Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 14076 Oahu BISH 1916-07-29
8 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Manoa Stream, behind East-West Center fishpond Ca. 10 ft. from the water. Preserved_Specimen Height 2 ft. Kow, A. 0.6 Oahu BISH 1983-06-30
9 Setaria palmifolia Kaunakakai, at intersection of Forestry Rd. and rd to Puu Kauwa Couple of small patches in Eucalyptus plantings. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 30414 Molokai BISH 2004-03-31
10 Setaria palmifolia Na Pali coast, Hanakoa valley Hedyotis cookiana, Thelypteris, Psidium guajava, Carex meyenii, Blechnum occidentale, Kalanchoe pinnata, Boehmeria grandis, Peperomia, Eragrostis variabilis, Rubus rosifolius, Pluchea, Setaria gracilis Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 6322 Kauai BISH 1997-05-24
11 Setaria palmifolia Waikane-Schofield Trail Shaded area; Eucalyptus, honohono, thimbleberry on side of road; mod. common in one small area; very common in shaded forest areas on island. Preserved_Specimen Large clumps, ca. 5' tall. Herbst, D.R. 8 Oahu BISH 1966-03-05
12 Setaria palmifolia Site 38 OS; Piihonua; Hilo Forest Reserve `Ohi`a-koa dieback. Associated spp.: Acacia koa, Metrosideros polymorpha, Psidium cattleianum, Cheirodendron trigynum, Antidesma platyphyllum, Vaccinium calycinum, Coprosma sp., Gouldia sp. Soils are a deep but somewhat poorly drained ash. Preserved_Specimen Adee, K.T. Hawaii BISH 1979-04-19
13 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Koolau Range. Bank edge of trail Under Metrosideros Preserved_Specimen 24 in. Woolford, H.A. 247 Oahu BISH 1956-01-08
14 Setaria palmifolia Puu Makaala Natural Area Reserve NEON Roadside MEPO5 CIGL mesic wet forest. Growing on rocky substrate in open sunlight. With Metrosideros polymorpha, Cibotium glaucum, Cheirodendron trigynum, Ilex anomala, Sadleria pallida, Microlaena stipoides, Axonopus fissifolius, Cyperus polystachyos, & Plantago major. Preserved_Specimen Fruiting Uehana, S. 2023305 Hawaii BISH 2023-06-29
15 Setaria palmifolia Kipapa Trail, ~130 m from refuge boundary wet lowland forest; Metrosideros, Acacia, Dicranopteris Preserved_Specimen dense patches; grass; leaves broad, elliptic, prominent parallel venation Reynolds, L.S. 68 Oahu BISH 2006-05-31
16 Setaria palmifolia Hawaii National Park, Hilo entrance to Park Preserved_Specimen Grass 6 ft. high Fagerlund, G.O. 273 Hawaii BISH 1943-01-27
17 Setaria palmifolia ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District of Hawaii Found growing on the side of the old railroad Preserved_Specimen ESP Field Crew Hawaii BISH 1979-07-15
18 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Manoa Cliff Trail, slopes of Mt. Tantalus above Manoa Valley Abundant along trail and on slopes between & under trees in moist secondary forest. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29481 Oahu BISH 1948-02-01
19 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Kalihi Valley, Bishop Estate Nursery (from Chas. Booth Garden, Pauoa valley ?) Preserved_Specimen Height 1.5 m. Judd Jr., A.F. 166 Oahu BISH 1928-10-16
20 Setaria palmifolia Kukuihaele, near canefields Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 45234519 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-19
21 Setaria palmifolia Kukuihaele Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 4519 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-19
22 Setaria palmifolia Wailuku River Along trail in wet Metrosideros rain forest Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4874 Hawaii BISH 1983-07-24
23 Setaria palmifolia Above kukuihaile, near cane fields Preserved_Specimen Rock 4525 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-19
24 Setaria palmifolia Haiku Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 1138 Maui BISH 1967-05-14
25 Setaria palmifolia Auhi, Ulupalakua Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 336 Maui BISH 1914-10-01
26 Setaria palmifolia Koloa, HI 96756, USA Roadside UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International C. R. Annable Kauai HAPI 12/12/1996
27 Setaria palmifolia Waimanu Valley, Waimanu Trail Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6095 Oahu BISH 1969-09-13
28 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Koolau Mountains, Tantalus Drive Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 429 Oahu BISH 1931-12-17
29 Setaria palmifolia Kealakekua, Judge Thompson's yard Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4175 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-11
30 Setaria palmifolia Kilauea, NE Ledge Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 611226076 Hawaii BISH 1961-12-26
31 Setaria palmifolia Kohala Mts.; Upper Hamakua ditch trail between Koiawe & Kamuela Preserved_Specimen Cranwell, L.M. 3187 Hawaii BISH 1938-09-10
32 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu, Mount Tantalus Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 3899 Oahu BISH 1935-11-23
33 Setaria palmifolia Palolo Valley, botom of canyon Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9270 Oahu BISH 1933-03-19
34 Setaria palmifolia Auhi, Ulupalakua Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 367 Maui BISH 1914-10-01
35 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen MacCaughey, V. Oahu BISH 1915-03-17
36 Setaria palmifolia Along Kaluanui Stream Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-03-21
37 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen MacCaughey, V. Oahu BISH 1915-03-17
38 Setaria palmifolia Honokaa Preserved_Specimen Couter, F.E. Hawaii BISH 1903-05-01
39 Setaria palmifolia Kapano Gulch Sparingly naturalized in moist open planted forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28446 Lanai BISH 1963-07-28
40 Setaria palmifolia Umikoa Preserved_Specimen Horner, R. Hawaii BISH 1903-12-10
41 Setaria palmifolia Waahila Ridge Trail, Koolau Mountains, Oahu, Hawaii Growing at summit of trail. Preserved_Specimen Clumping widespread grass, with irritating hairs on lvs and stems. Crago, L.M. 2005137 Oahu BISH 2005-05-16
42 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Manoa Cliff Trail Forming thick clumps in woods. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11622 Oahu BISH 1932-04-10
43 Setaria palmifolia Round Top-Tantalus Forest Reserve. Round Top Rd Disturbed roadside. Preserved_Specimen Perennial grass. Annable, C.R. 3193 Oahu BISH 1996-12-12
44 Setaria palmifolia Hamakua District; Honokaa Sugar Co., Field 123 In Casuarina grove. Prefers shady habitat Preserved_Specimen Dense clumpy understory 30-45 tall. Tomich, P.Q. Hawaii BISH 1960-03-18
45 Setaria palmifolia Honolulu; Volunteer in Lyon Arboretum Common in moist open woods. Preserved_Specimen Perennial, tufted grass; the somewhat lax flowering culms may reach a height of ca. 5 ft.; lower parts of plant bear irritating bristles. Herbst, D.R. 622 Oahu BISH 1967-09-25
46 Setaria palmifolia Mount Tantalus Undergrowth Preserved_Specimen 0.5 m high Lee, H.A. 32 Oahu BISH 1924-01-01
47 Setaria palmifolia Tantalus Dr. 1200ft elevation Roadside weed Preserved_Specimen Abundant in sunny to shady areas Faccenda, K. 1681 Oahu BISH 2020-08-30
48 Setaria palmifolia East Maui, Makawao District, 30 miles W of Hana along Hwy 36 Common along road in wet forest area, with Eucalyptus. Preserved_Specimen Forming large clumps to 3 ft. high or more. Henrickson, J.S. 3733 Maui BISH 1969-06-26
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