| Ischaemum byrone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Haleakalā National Park, Maui | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Genus: | Ischaemum |
| Species: | I. byrone |
| Binomial name | |
| Ischaemum byrone | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Ischaemum byrone, commonly known as Hilo murainagrass or Hilo ischaemum, is a species of grass native to the Pacific Islands, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaiian Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Society Islands, Tonga, Tubuai Islands, and Wallis and Futuna. [2] In Hawaii it is found on the islands of Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii but has unfortunately been extirpated from Oahu, where it was once known to grow. [1] There are perhaps 1,000 to 3,000 individual plants remaining in total. [1]
This grass is perennial, spreading via stolons, with stems reaching up to 80 centimetres (31 in) in maximum height. [1] It usually grows at the coastline, often in cracks in the lava cliffs. [3]
On the island of Hawaii, there are at least four populations and perhaps more scattered occurrences. At least one large occurrence has been recently destroyed by a lava flow at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. [4] There are at least five occurrences on Kauai and six on Maui with up to several thousand plants existing. [4] On Molokai, a 1994 count estimated about 1000 individuals. [4]
Threats to this species include volcanism, development, trampling, non-native plants, fire, and off-road vehicles. [1]
