Sporobolus virginicus

Description:

Akiaki or Beach dropseedPoaceae (Gramineae)Indigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsMaui (Cultivated)The leaves, culms and roots were used medicinally. The plant was mixed with other ingredients and used to treat ea (thrush) and paoao (childhood disease, with physical weakening).EtymologyThe genus name Sporobolus is derived from the Greek sporos, seed, and ballein, to throw, in reference to the fruit (the pericarp) which swells and bursts when soaked, thus pushing out or dropping the seed. Dropseed is a vernacular name for this grass.The specific epithet virginicus has reference to "from the Virgin Islands, Virginian."NPH00001nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sporobolus_virginicus