The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-12-22
THE NEW RIVAL
Of LANTANA
WEED OR SHRUB THAT IS
THREATENING PASTURES ON
THE ISLAND OF MAUI

The first comprehensive account Of
Pamakani the plant or shrub Of which
SO much complaint has been heard
from Maui during the past year or two,
was given I'm paper on the subject
presented by l.. Won Tempsky at yes
terday's meeting of the Hawaiian Live
stock Breeders Association. The prln-
cipal portions Of the paper are as fol-
lows
MY attention was first drawn to Pa
mlkan. about 1855 or at Ulupalakua.
1t must have been growing there right
along, but it was only when it began 90
spread over the mauka land that it
first attracted itself to me. 1t was then
growing at an attitude of approximate
ly $500 feet on the side of a steep hill,
the soil being composed principally Of
Cluders with a little loamy top sOf,;
prior to the advent of the Pamakani,
Pipiwai, and it grew there quite pro-
fusely, this was very soon obliterated
by the Pamakani and from that time
noticed a steady increase, slowly at
first, but as it began to spread and at
tain a larger area from which to draw
its seed supply; more rapidly; growing
both mauka and makai till now ii can
be found as low as 1000 feet, and as
high as six thousand. The elevation it
does best at is from four to five thou
sand feet.
In 1899 it had reached Makawao, and
Kaupo in 1900; a distance of about
twenty miles in either directions.
To give an illustration of the rapid
ity with which it can spread itself
when il reaches a locality which is suit
able to it's growth. l may tell you that
in February, 1901 l went from kaupo
to Makawao through the crater of Ha-
| leakala. at an elevation of about $500
feet l noticed a few scattering plants Of
! Pamakani, when l made the same trip
! in May of this year lands to the extent
of about five hundred acres was so
completely covered with it, that it is
| impossible for either man or beast to
get through.
The conditions in that locality are,
frequent light rains and a soil compos-
ed of loan and gravel.
| I have so far seen no Pamakani on
! the northern side of Maui from Kaupo
to NakawaO. 1t may of course be there,
| but it dOsen't seem to be known as a
| pest in that part of this Island.
Tamakdni viii however grow in the
parts of Maui where the Trade-Wind
rains occur, as | have seen a patch
of it in the woods near Kailili growing
up amongst dense Hilo grass.
Pamakani is 1 understand referred in
Hiuebrand's Flora of Hawaiias "Sene-
cio', and also "Phupllanthes" there
being evidently two plants of that
name.
This shows that Pamakani must have
grown on the islands for a long period,
and the only reason I can deduce for its
not having spread before 1855 and 6, is
that probably prior to that date there
may have been some insect or blight
that kept it in check, which insect or
blight must about that time have dis
! appeared.
The so-called Maui Black blight kills
! Pamakan., but very slowly; also l nave
noticed this year for the first time, the
olinda beetle in certain localities has
stripped it perfectly clear of leaves;
but as it comes up again from the roots
I cannot hold out much hope for that
source, for any material help towards
its determination.
Pamakaui is PERENNIAL grows in a
bunch of stems starting direct from the
roots, color of stems nearly claret, has
y dark green diamond shaped leaf, and
cluster of white flowers at the eX-
treme end of each stem. The seed is
very minute, and light, therefore east
! ~ carried by the wind. The plant
grows in very favorable localities to a
height of six and seven feet, but usual
| ly about three or four is what is found.
| 1t is not a hard plant to dig out hav-
| ing when young very shallow roots
| and / have no difficulty in keeping it
out of my lands in Makawao; it is only
| when it becomes thoroughly establish
ed that it is hard and expensive to era
| dictate.