The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-23
REPORT ON pAMAKANl.

Makawao, Maui, II. L, Nov. 1909
A F. Judd, Esq, Secretary Hawai-
ian Live Stock Breeders Association.
Sir: In compliance with your request
to write what I know about Pamakani
for the meeting of the above Asso-
citation to be held in Hilo this month.
append herewith a brief account of
my observations in connection with
/; this weed.
My attention was first drawn IN
Pamakani about 1885 or 'S6 at JJlu-
; paiakua. 1t must have been growing
there right along, but it was only
when it began to spread over the
mauka land that it first attracted itself
to me. 1t was then growing at an
altitude of approximately $500 feet on
the side of steep hill, the soil being
composed principally of cinders with
loamy top soil; prior to the advent
of the Pamakani Pipiwai and it grew
there quite profusely, this was very
soon obliterated by the Pamakani and
from that time I noticed steady in
crease, slowly at first, but as it be-
gan to spread and attain a larger area
from which to draw it's seed supply.
more rapidly; growing both mauka and
makai till now it can be found as
low as 1000 feet and as high as 6.o00
The elevation it does best at is from
four to five thousand feet.
In 1899 If had reacbed Molyoroo 80
Kaupo in 1900; distance of about
twenty miles in either direction.
To give an illustration of the rapid
ity with which it can spread itself
when it reaches a locality which is
suitable to its growth, may tell
you that in February, 1901, I went from
kaupo to Makawao through the crater
OF Haleakala, at an elevation of about
4,500 feet and I noticed a few scatter
ing plants of Pamakani; when I made
the same trip in May of this year lands
to the extent of about five hundred
acres were so completely covered with
1t, that it is impossible for either man
or beast to get through.
The conditions in that locality are,
frequent light rains, and a soil com
posed of loan and gravel.
l have so far seen no Pamakani on
the northern side of Maui from Kaupo
to Makawao. 1t may of course be
there, but it doesn't seem to be known
as pest in that part of this island.
Pamakani will. however, grow in the
parts of Maui where the trade-wind
rains occur, as I have seen a patch
OF it in the woods near KaiIili growing
up amongst the dense Hilo grass.
Pamakani is I understand referred to |
in Hillebrand's Flora of Hawaii as |
'Senecioy" and also "Phupllanthes," /
there being evidently two plants of /
that name. /
This shows that Pamakani must |
have grown on the Islands for long
period, and the only reason I can !
deduce for its not having spread be-
fore 1885 and SO, is that probably prior
10 that date there may have been some
insect or blight that kept it in check.
which insect or blight must about that
time have disappeared
The so-called Maui Black Blight kills
Pamakani, but very slowly; also I |,
have noticed this year for the first I,
lime, the oiinda beetle in certain To-
'alities has stripped it perfectly clear
- iS1'CS, Jul DIS II comes up again |
rom the roots I cannot hold out much
rope from that source, for any material
help towards it's determination.
Pamakani is perennial; grows in
punch of stems starting direct from Z
he roots, color of stems nearly claret. X
las dark green diamond shaped leaf.
md cluster of white flowers at the 4
xtreme end of each stem. The seed
s very minute, and light therefore
asily carried by the wind. The plant
rows in very favorable localities to
! height of six and seven feet, but
Usually about three or four is what
S found. 1t is not hard plant to (
lg out having when young very shall
ow roots: and / have no difficulty in (
eeping it out of my lands in Maka- {
7ao; it is only when it becomes thor
ughly established that it is hard and =
Expensive to eradicate
Trusting that the foregoing will be
some little use to you. am, sir,
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd L. Won TEMPSKY. Id
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