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Chrysopogon aciculatus

(Retz.) Trin. (1820)

This name is accepted

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

golden beardgrass, mānienie ‘ula [manienie ula], pi‘ipi‘i [piipii], pilipili ‘ula [piliili ula]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennials; culms 15–25 cm tall, ascending or erect from a decumbent base.

Stems: Stoloniferous, stolons extensively creeping, covered with imbricate scale-like old sheaths, sending up numerous sterile leafy shoots.

Roots: Roots fibrous.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades 2-8 cm long, 3-5 mm wide, the uppermost nearly obsolete. Margins scabrous and sparsely serrate, sparsely papillose-hispid near base, thin, glossy, often undulate. Veins parallel. Sheathing; Sheaths 1-3 cm long or the uppermost up to 6 cm long, striate, sometimes purple-tinged, imbricate, sparsely pilose at throat and along margins; ligule a densely ciliate ridge ca. 0.2 mm long; Stipules absent.

Flowers: Panicles reddish purple, narrowly elliptic, 3-6 cm long, the branches +/- whorled, 0.5-1.5 cm long, slender, stiffly ascending or appressed; spikelet clusters 6-8 mm long, disarticulating from the pedicel or branch by a long oblique callus extending down 1 side as a brown, appressed hispidulous ridge ca. 5 mm long, callus forming a retrorsely bearded, barbed point; sessile spikelet 3-4 mm long, acute, glabrous, hispidulous-scabrous on upper margins, callus pubescent, oblique, ca. 4 mm long, first glume lanceolate, dorsally flattened, ca. 3.8 mm long, 2-nerved, bifid, scabrid-setose, margins revolute, second glume narrowly boat-shaped, ca. 3.4 mm long, 3-nerved, the midnerve prolonged into a short, scabrid-setose awn ca. 0.8 mm long, margins delicately hyaline, pubescent, first lemma ca. 2.8 mm long, delicately hyaline, margins pubescent, second lemma 2.5-3 mm long, narrow, delicately hyaline, tapering into an awn ca. 5 mm long, palea delicately hyaline, oblong-acute, ca. 1.6 mm long; pedicellate spikelets purple, pedicels 2-3 mm long, hispidulous at apex, glumes ca. 5 mm long, scabrous at apex, acuminate or awn-pointed, first floret sterile, second floret staminate, lemmas about equal, awnless, shorter than glumes.

Fruit: Caryopsis oblong; ca. 2 mm long.

Ploidy: 2n = 20

Habitat: Often common in dry; exposed areas; usually on slopes and ridges; 15-520 m.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous

Island Status

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

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fund. Agrost.: 188 (1820)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1516 (K, O, Mo, L, H); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:9 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kaiula, ridge Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 9950 Oahu BISH 1929-10-27
2 Chrysopogon aciculatus Mokuleia, Slopes of Koala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1912-04-26
3 Chrysopogon aciculatus East Maui, Kaapahu Parcel on Kaapahu Ridge, Pukiawe near by Preserved_Specimen Haus, B. 2191 Maui BISH 2004-08-11
4 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kaiholenaliilii Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 438 Lanai BISH 1929-08-12
5 Chrysopogon aciculatus Lihue Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 734 Kauai BISH 1916-11-01
6 Chrysopogon aciculatus Upper reaches of Mauna Loa dairy Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4186 Oahu BISH 1936-04-28
7 Chrysopogon aciculatus Ridge W. of Hanapepe River? Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. 24072476 Kauai BISH 1895-07-01
8 Chrysopogon aciculatus Mokolii (S.W. id.) Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. Oahu BISH 1947-05-17
9 Chrysopogon aciculatus Honolulu; Corner of Victoria and Green Streets Phillip's Commercial School Preserved_Specimen Illingworth, J.F. Oahu BISH 1936-07-01
10 Chrysopogon aciculatus Exposed ridgetop Preserved_Specimen O'Connor, P.J. Oahu BISH 1987-09-13
11 Chrysopogon aciculatus 2365 Oahu Ave., Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Davis, W.C. Oahu BISH 1931-06-12
12 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kahuku Preserved_Specimen Cooke, C.M. Oahu BISH 1916-08-01
13 Chrysopogon aciculatus Waianae Mountains, Puu Kaala West ridge, gulch east of Puu Kaupakuhale Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1932-10-23
14 Chrysopogon aciculatus Honolulu; Manoa Valley Manoa Arboretum, Kanana Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1934-02-12
15 Chrysopogon aciculatus [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; O`ahu; Hawai`i; Honolulu] Preserved_Specimen 1962 Oahu BISH 1909-04-01
16 Chrysopogon aciculatus Halemano, Wahiawa In moderately wet pineapple field Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 415 Oahu BISH 1931-06-07
17 Chrysopogon aciculatus W Maui, Lahaina District, along E rim of Honokohau Valley Vegetation: Metrosideros Lowland Mesic Shrubland, with Dodonaea viscosa, Wikstroemia oahuensis, Styphelia tameiameiae, Odontosoria, Melinis minutiflora, Andropogon virginicus, Phymatosorus grossus. Preserved_Specimen Grass. Oppenheimer, H.L. 79807 Maui BISH 1999-07-14
18 Chrysopogon aciculatus Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 181 Lanai BISH 1913-10-22
19 Chrysopogon aciculatus Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 209 Lanai BISH 1913-10-22
20 Chrysopogon aciculatus Near Honolulu Hillside, among bushes Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 13713 Oahu BISH 1916-06-15
21 Chrysopogon aciculatus Makua Valley Moderate slope - open Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4060 Oahu BISH 1935-11-17
22 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Drive down Chain of Craters Rd. about 28.5 mi toward Kalapana from intersection with Crater Rim Rd; or 0.2 mi before Queen's Bath. Plot 27 Mixed lowland scrub community Preserved_Specimen Grass, creeping Newell, C.L. 125 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-20
23 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kailua, Kaimi Grass in pasture Preserved_Specimen pilipiliua Wong, R. Oahu BISH 1904-12-11
24 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kailua, Mokulua Is., S islet Top of pebbly beach Preserved_Specimen Prostrate with erect branches Fosberg, F.R. 12907 Oahu BISH 1936-02-16
25 Chrysopogon aciculatus P.T.B.G., Lawai Valley Growing in dry, exposed areas. Uncommon in valley Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2300 Kauai BISH 1972-01-04
26 Chrysopogon aciculatus Mokolii Islet, Kualoa Dry slope Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13586 Oahu BISH 1937-01-31
27 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Drive to end of Hilina Pali Rd. and walk about 1.5 mi down Hilina Pali Switchback Trail. Plant was near 2 lg. trees located about 10 m from a sharp hairpin turn in trail. Plot 46a Very open Metrosideros-Diospyros forest on `a`a lava Preserved_Specimen Creeping grass Newell, C.L. 275 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-02
28 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Down Chain of Craters Rd. about 23.3 mi toward Kalapana from intersection with Crater Rim Rd.; 1.6 mi before Kamoamoa picnic area, or 8 mi before Queens Bath Salt spray community Preserved_Specimen Grass about 1 in. tall (creeper) Newell, C.L. 103 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-20
29 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Down Chain of Craters Rd. about 23.3 mi toward Kalapana from intersection with Crater Rim Road; 1.6 mi before Kamoamoa picnic area, or 8 mi before Queens Bath. Plot 29 Heteropogon grassland community Preserved_Specimen Creeping grass Newell, C.L. 977 Hawaii BISH 1967-06-24
30 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Down Chain of Craters Rd. about 14.8 mi toward Kalapana from intersection with Crater Rim Rd.; or 1.9 mi past Naulu Picnic Area Rd. Plant was at left of road (plot 33) Metrosideros-Diospyros-Andropogon savanna community Preserved_Specimen Creeping grass Newell, C.L. 868 Hawaii BISH 1967-01-25
31 Chrysopogon aciculatus Near Honolulu Hillside, among bushes Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 13713 Oahu BISH 1916-06-15
32 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hanapepe River, on the west ridge Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. 24765 Kauai BISH 1895-07-01
33 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kamoamoa. Pahoehoe lava by sea. Preserved_Specimen Smith, C.W. 158 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-03
34 Chrysopogon aciculatus Alae Found along roadside Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4174 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-14
35 Chrysopogon aciculatus Amikopala, Kaluakoi Dry pasture Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12449 Molokai BISH 1932-12-22
36 Chrysopogon aciculatus Above Wailua, Wailua Game Reserve Vegetation on plots stripmined for bauxite ore in 1958-60. Base ore, no overburden or soil treatment. Preserved_Specimen Howard, R.A. 20260 Kauai BISH 1985-10-20
37 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kahana Valley On the second ridge of Hauula mountain range Quite common Preserved_Specimen Herat, T. 219 Oahu BISH 1972-08-23
38 Chrysopogon aciculatus Windward side of northern part of Kalepa Ridge Northern part of ridge. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-07-20
39 Chrysopogon aciculatus Au Sugar Co. Preserved_Specimen pilipiliuli. A native perrenial not of much value, eaten by sheep and less by cattle. Kills lambs by the seed barkbs in filling the wood of the face and eyes as to blind its eyes and take the skin off the limbs. Grows in thick patches. Munro, G.C. 54 Molokai BISH 1903-02-15
40 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Hilina Pali (Escarpment) Common centipede grass creeping on ash dunes Preserved_Specimen Creeping grass Iltis, H.H. 136 Hawaii BISH 1967-06-22
41 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Down Hilina Pali Rd. about 9.8 mi toward ocean from inter- section with Chain of Craters Rd.; 2.6 mi past Kipuka Nene. Walk about 1.5 mi WNW from Hilina Pali Rd. to ash dunes Scattered Metrosideros - Andropogon grassland community on stationary ash dunes Preserved_Specimen Creeping grass Newell, C.L. 662 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-29
42 Chrysopogon aciculatus Lanai cemetery. WGS84 coordinates: Lat. 20.847849, Long. -156.907176 From sunny, open hardpan soil in eroded area. Uncommon in area, about 20 plants seen in area but more populations were also seen in the general vicinity Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 3220 Lanai BISH 2023-06-23
43 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Down Chain of Craters Rd. about 11.9 mi toward Kalapana from intersection with Crater Rim Rd.; or about 1 mi before Naulu Picnic Area Rd. Plant was uphill from a paved pulloff Metrosideros - native shrub - Andropogon savanna community Preserved_Specimen Creeping grass Newell, C.L. 824 Hawaii BISH 1967-01-23
44 Chrysopogon aciculatus 3 miles makai of Belt Road; near Ocean View Estates Surviving in a few cracks of pahoehoe desert under old `ohi`a lehua. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 33408 Hawaii BISH 1973-06-15
45 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Drive to end of Hilina Pali Rd. and walk about 200 m west of rainshelter. Plant was in a grassland just west of pahoehoe lava flow, and N. of large trailside Metrosideros tree (plot 2) Andropogon glomeratus grassland community on ash-covered pahoehoe lava Preserved_Specimen Grass, creeping Newell, C.L. 278 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-03
46 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kokokahi Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 3866 Oahu BISH 1936-01-05
47 Chrysopogon aciculatus Pupukea-Paumalu, Koollauloa, Koolau Mts Common in herblands w/Waltheria association Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 3744 Oahu BISH 1987-12-05
48 Chrysopogon aciculatus Pia valley. Exposed soil from what appears to have been a recent landslide, ca 600m from end of Anolani St Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 2067 Oahu BISH 2021-07-31
49 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kalapana Hiway at the foot of the Pali Dry `a`a lava; assoc. with a few Metrosideros, Waltheria, Chrysopogon, Doryopteris, Andropogon Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 245 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-13
50 Chrysopogon aciculatus Hilo, growing in a lawn at Lyman Museum. Preserved_Specimen Robust and vigorous inflorescences, larger than usual due to their growing in rich soil in a high rainfall area. Hobdy, R.W. 4302 Hawaii BISH 2008-11-10
51 Chrysopogon aciculatus Lanai Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 308 Lanai BISH 1864-01-01
52 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kuli'ou'ou West Ridge, along trail Preserved_Specimen Uncommon along trail Faccenda, K. 2123 Oahu BISH 2021-10-02
53 Chrysopogon aciculatus Kalaupapa National Historical Park; Papapaiki; out side fenced enclosure Preserved_Specimen Creeping perennial Hughes, G.D. 1120 Molokai BISH 2005-01-11
54 Chrysopogon aciculatus Wailua game refuge Preserved_Specimen Takahashi, M. Kauai BISH 1958-05-08
55 Chrysopogon aciculatus Koele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 180 Lanai BISH 1913-06-01
56 Chrysopogon aciculatus Oahu Preserved_Specimen Rémy, J. 111 Oahu BISH 1851-01-01
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