Ischaemum byrone
Poaceae or Grass family
Synonyms: Andropogon byronis, Ischaemum lutescens, Spodiopogon byronis
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No Known Ancient Hawaiian Name (See Hawaiian Name below)
Hilo ischaemum, Hilo beach grass, Hilo murainagrass, Ischaemum
Natural Range & Environment
Hilo ischaemum (Ischaemum byrone) is an endangered species of grass and is endemic to Kauaʻi, Oʻahu (extirpated), the northeast coast of Molokaʻi, east Maui, the eastern and inland portions of Hawaiʻi Island, including Hilo Bay, and is found among rocks near the ocean and sometimes further inland up to 250 feet. It is most often associated with naupaka kahakai, or beach naupaka [Wagner et al. 1990].
Cultivated plants of Ischaemum byrone display beautiful light blue-green foliage, a main feature of this grass, and add a new color and texture to the garden.
Description
Hilo ischaemum is a stoloniferous (bearing stolons) perennial. The culms, or stems, range from 15 (4 dm) to over 30 inches (8 dm) tall. The leaves are glaucous (flat color), light to medium blue-green, and smooth to the touch. The seed heads sometimes, but not always, will split in two, giving it a forked look.
Growth Requirements
General
Hilo ischaemum is an easy-growing, uncommon to rare native grass. One of the most beautiful features is its blue-green foliage, which adds a new color and texture to the garden. It does well in pots or in the ground and will spread by seeds and stolons. But it will quickly outgrow small pots and even start appearing through the drainage holes.
This grass requires part to full sun with good soil drainage to thrive. It will not need much water after being established in the ground and will tell you when it's thirsty when leaves begin to curl. Give it occasional heavy drenches of water rather frequent sprinkles.
Grasses and sedges add another dimension or form to the landscape and fufill our natural desire to see more than just broad-leaved plants.
Pests and Diseases
Caterpillars, grasshoppers and locusts will occasionally eat this grass, which mostly results in unsightly edges or holes rather than destroying the entire plant. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for treatments.
Hilo ischaemum easily self-propagates from seeds or by stolons, which will root at the node when it comes into contact with the soil and sufficient moisture is present. Seedlings will often appear in other potted plants nearby when the mature plants are producing seeds, which is often.
Uses
Ancient Hawaiian
No uses by ancient Hawaiians are known.
Modern
This species is slowly being incorporated into native landscapes and gardens. Our native grasses and sedges are, for the most part, underrated and often overlooked in native landscapes. But they need to be given more attention as an important native addition to our landscapes and yards.
Special Features and Information
General
Ischaemum is a genus consisting of approximately 80-90 species within the Grass family (Poaceae). One notable species, Ischaemum byrone, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is currently classified as an endangered species. The Hawaiian Archipelago is home to around 50 species of native grasses, with at least forty of them being endemic to the region.
In addition to the native species, two non-native Ischaemum species have become naturalized in the islands: I. ciliare, which is found in a limited area on East Maui, and I. polystachyum, which can be found on Hawaiʻi Island.
It is believed that this grass has spread to the Cook Islands and the Austral Islands through migratory birds originating from Alaska, such as the Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) [McCormack 2007].
Hawaiian Name
No Hawaiian name is known. However, we choose to use the popular name Hilo ischaemum.
Etymology
The generic name Ischaemum is derived from the Greek ischiamos, to quench blood flow (Lit., blood stopper), with unknown application [Gledhill 2008]. The specific epithet byrone was named after Byron's Bay, now Hilo Bay, on the island of Hawaiʻi [USFWS 1996].
DWE
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