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Hemarthria altissima

(Poir.) Stapf & C.E.Hubb. (1934)

This name is accepted

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

bigalta, greenalta, limpo grass, red swamp grass, swamp couch

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 109 (1934)

Other References

Starr et al. 2004:26 (NEWNAT/EM, DESCR); Faccenda 2025b:117 (H)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Makawao District, on W Kuiaha In pasture & side of rd. Preserved_Specimen Tall, erect, perennial grass 1.5m ht. Fruit like Lepturus or Stenotaphrum. Starr, F. 106291 Maui BISH 2001-06-29
2 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Haleakala Ranch above Crater Road, between mile markers 3 and 4 Outside small exclosure in cattle pasture inflorescences Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2454 Maui BISH 2020-10-24
3 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Kokomo. Growing in pasture. Preserved_Specimen A robust grass with running and ascending stems. Hobdy, R.W. 3256 Maui BISH 1990-10-14
4 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Makawao Forest Reserve, Kahakapao Rd Mesic to wet pasture. Associated vegetation: Ulex, Psidium guajava, Andropogon virginicus. Preserved_Specimen Erect, perennial grass, slightly prostrate when tall, up to 2.5m ht; foliage tinged w. purple. Starr, F. 110301 Maui BISH 2001-10-30
5 Hemarthria altissima Mountain View, N Peck Rd, ,near highway. WGS84 coordinates: Lat. 19.540191, Long. -155.128320 Weedy roadside, sunny, wet, edge of pasture. Preserved_Specimen Two patches seen along the road, each about 5 meters wide, sprawling grass to 1.5 meters tall. Faccenda, K. 3278 Hawaii BISH 2024-01-06
6 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Makawao Forest Reserve, Kahakapao Rd Mesic to wet pasture. Associated vegetation: Ulex, Psidium guajava, Andropogon virginicus. Preserved_Specimen Erect, perennial grass, slightly prostrate when tall, up to 2.5m ht; foliage tinged w. purple. Starr, F. 110301 Maui BISH 2001-10-30
7 Hemarthria altissima Honolulu, grounds of Honolulu Zoo, mauka of hte siamang exhibit Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Two small trees that appear crowded and perhaps lacking good drainage; leaves +/- fleshy; flowers yellow-green, odorless. Smith, R.F. Oahu BISH 1995-09-07
8 Hemarthria altissima Puna District, N. Glenwood Road. WGS84 coordinates: Lat. 19.500946, Long. -155.175656 Roadside, weet, sunny area. Preserved_Specimen Decumbent grass, rare, only one colony seen qalong this road, about 5 metrs long along road, spreading from pasture, but area not extensively surveyed. Faccenda, K. 3266 Hawaii BISH 2024-01-05
9 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Kokomo. An uncommon pasture grass in upper Haiku. Preserved_Specimen Decumbent or climbing when supported; caespitose, but roots at nodes when stems are along ground. Hobdy, R.W. 3889 Maui BISH 1995-11-01
10 Hemarthria altissima East Maui, Kokomo. Preserved_Specimen Robust grass to 2 m tall in pasture. Erect with support but tends to lay down and can root from the nodes. Hobdy, R.W. 4191 Maui BISH 2004-06-16
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