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Hibiscus arnottianus

A.Gray (1854)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Hibiscus

hau hele, koki‘o ke‘oke‘o [kokio keokeo], koki‘o kea [kokio kea], pāmakani [pamakani]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs or small trees up to 8(–10) m tall.

Stems: Mature stems glabrous to glabrate, young stems, petioles, and calyces copiously yellowish stellate pubescent.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate–elliptic to broadly ovate, usually 4–15(–30) cm long, 2–11(–25) cm wide. Apex acute to subacuminate. Base obtuse to subcordate or cuneate. Upper surfaces glabrous or glabrate; lower surfaces glabrate to densely pubescent; blades coriaceous. Margins entire or dentate throughout or near apex. Petioles usually less than ½ the length of blades; sometimes copiously yellowish stellate pubescent. Stipules subulate to filiform, 5–10 mm long, caducous.

Flowers: Flowers solitary, borne near the ends of the branches, pedicels stout, 1.5–6(–9) cm long, articulate; involucral bracts 5–7, reflexed to erect, linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 5–15(–25) mm long, 1–2 mm wide, distinct or connate basally or adnate to calyx at base. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx tubular, 5-lobed or 5-parted, (1.5–)2–3(–3.4) cm long, lobes deltate–acute, 3–10 mm long; sometimes copiously yellowish stellate pubescent, lobes valvate in bud. Corolla actinomorphic to moderately zygomorphic, corolla of 5 petals, flaring, white, occasionally with a pink tinge on abaxial side, sometimes aging pinkish, obovate, (5–) 6–11(–13) cm long from point of insertion, distinct from each other but adnate basally to the staminal column into a tube 1–3(–4) cm long, convolute in bud, lower surface usually densely pubescent. Stamens 5 to numerous, monadelphous, forming a staminal column, exserted, pinkish to dark red, rarely white, 8–19 cm long; filaments arising in upper ⅓–½ of staminal column, red or white, spreading, 0.8–3 cm long; anthers monothecal. Pollen globose, echinate. Ovary superior, 5-celled or rarely appearing 10-celled by a vertical partition, the carpels borne in a single whorl or rarely seemingly superposed whorls, placentation axile; ovules 3 or more per cell; style exceeding the staminal column, 5-branched, each branch terminated by an expanded stigma.

Fruit: Loculicidally dehiscent capsules; chartaceous; obovoid–apiculate; ca. 1.7–2.5 cm long; glabrous; endocarp smooth; shiny; exocarp reticulate–veined. Seeds angular-reniform or rounded-reniform; ca. 4 mm long; yellowish brown tomentose; with or without endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 80*; 84*

Habitat: Occurring in primarily mesic to wet forest.

Elevation Range: 300–800 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Many references in songs and stories (Neal 1965:561), fiber for cordage (Bornhorst 1994:9)

  • The illnesses ‘ea and pa‘ao‘ao are treated with the flowers buds. The leaves are used as a purgative. For blood purification the flower buds are used in conjuction with the bark of the tap root, as well as the bark of the ‘ahakea (Bobea spp.), ‘ohi‘a ‘ai bark (Ipomoea pes-caprae), ‘uhaloa bark, (Waltheria indica), kikania (Desmodium sandwicense) plant (except pods), pohuehue roots (Ipomoea pes-caprae), hāpu‘u trunks (Cibotium spp.), ‘auko‘i stalks (Senna occidentalis), noni fuit (Morinda citrifolia), and kōhonua‘ula (red sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum) (Chun 1994:157–158).

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • The seeds of Hibiscus arnottianus are contained in papery 1/2 to 1 inch capsules which are tanor brown colored when ripe. The capsules split open when mature and the seeds fall to the ground. The fuzzy seeds are 1/8 inch long and yellowish brown.
  • Hibiscus arnottianus is easy to grow from fresh seed, but it hybridizes easily and the seedlings may differ from the parent plant. To ensure that the seedlings are not hybrids, hand pollinate the flowers. Using a paint brush, transfer pollen to the stigma of the flower and then enclose the flower in a bag until the seed capsule ripens. Bornhorst recommends hand pollination in the early morning. Pick the capsules just as they turn tan and before they open up. Place them in a container such as a paper bag to dry. As the capsule dries, the seeds will fall out or they can be removed manually.
  • Soak the seeds in water overnight and plant the ones that sink. Woolliams recommends using warm water. Use a well-drained sterile potting mix such as 2 parts potting soil and 1 part perlite and keep the mix moist. The NTBG plant information sheet suggests putting the seeds in the shade. Koob writes that the seeds generally sprout in 2 to 3 weeks. NTBG says that germination generally occurs in 3 to 9 days. (Bornhorst 1991; Koob 1998; NTBG 1992a; NTBG 1992b; Woolliams 1976)
  • Hibiscus arnottianus grow easily from semi-hardwood cuttings. Cuttings 4 to 6 inches long and less than 1/2 inch in diameter should be made from healthy branches without flower buds. Criley recommends terminal or sub-terminal cuttings. NTBG suggests using cuttings that are about 1/4 inch in diameter (pencil-sized) with at least 3 nodes.
  • Reduce transpiration by removing half of each leaf above the rooting medium and use a medium strength rooting hormone. Koob suggests 0.1% indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 0.05% naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (Koob, email). Bornhorst (1996) recommends Rootone F or Hormex #3; Bornhorst (1991) also reports the use of a 1:10 Dip N Gro solution. Criley reports success with rooting hormones having a 2 to 1 ratio of IBA to NAA. In this work, good rooting was obtained with total auxin concentrations ranging from 4,000 parts per million (ppm) to 7,500 ppm.
  • Use a well-drained medium. Bornhorst (1991) reports success with a mixture of 1 part perlite to 1 part vermiculite. Koob suggests clean sand, perlite, or vermiculite; Criley uses either 1 part coarse perlite to 1 part vermiculite or 100% vermiculite; NTBG recommends a mixture of 1 part potting soil and 1 part perlite.
  • Keep the cuttings in a humid environment and the rooting medium moist. Put the cuttings under a mist system if possible, but a humidity chamber or hand misting twice a day may be adequate. Bornhorst (1991) reports the successful use of a mist system which was one for 24 seconds every 3 minutes. Criley's work was done using an intermittent mist system which was on for 6 to 8 seconds every 5 or 6 minutes; cuttings were rooted under 30% shade. Cuttings are ready to transplant in 2 to 5 months. (Bornhorst 1991; Bornhorst 1996; Criley 1999; Criley 1998; Koob 1998; NTBG 1992a; NTBG 1992b)
  • Hibiscus arnottianus can be air layered. Use standard air layer technique on a branch that is about 1 inch in diameter. Bornhorst recommends selecting a branch that is growing upright and making the air layer between 1 and 2 feet from the tip of the branch.
  • To start a plant by air layering, remove the bark and cambium from a 1 inch wide ring of bark. Apply a rooting hormone to the cut surface and cover this with a layer of damp sphagnum moss. Wrap the moss in plastic being sure to secure the ends where it wraps around the branch.
  • The air layer should be ready to remove from the parent plant in 3 to 5 months. Bornhorst (1996) suggests that root systems from air-layered plants are not as vigorous as those produced by other techniques. (Bornhorst 1991; Bornhorst 1996; Koob 1998)
  • Hibiscus arnottianus can easily be grafted. Use a rootstock of the common red, pink waterfall, double pink, or of the cultivar 'Peachglow.' Most grafting techniques will work. The scion (the piece of the desired plant that will be attached to the rootstock) should be 3 to 4 inches long with 2 to 4 nodes. Cut the scion from branches that are semi-mature; both tips and stem sections work well for scion wood. Bornhorst (1991) recommends either wedge or side wedge grafting techniques. (Bornhorst 1991; Bornhorst 1996; Koob 1998) [Data from Herring, E. C., & Criley, R. A. (2003). The Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Web Site: Developing a Webbased Information Resource. HortTechnology, 13(3), 545-548. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/]

Ethnobotanical Images

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Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Endemic
Molokai Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: U.S. Expl. Exped., Phan. 1: 176 (1854)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Susan M. Deans SMD173 Kauai PTBG 7/26/2016
2 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information thick growth of Dicranopteris and Machaerina PRESERVED_SPECIMEN w. teraoka, k. nagata, l. whiteaker & b. silva 365 Hawaii BISH 10/9/1980
3 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wilkes expedition A 1838-08-06
4 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN palmer, r.; orr, d. 807 NY 3/18/2004
5 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Cultivated plants. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kana Watanabe HW0021 Kauai PTBG 5/17/2000
6 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN UNCC
7 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Native Hawaiian Garden. Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Barbara Kennedy 74 Oahu PTBG 9/10/2018
8 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Susan M. Deans SMD174 Kauai PTBG 7/26/2016
9 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information forest on mountain slope PRESERVED_SPECIMEN J. Fujiwara s.n. UBC 10/27/1960
10 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN J. Hiyane 58-75 UBC 1/11/1958
11 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Forestry Planted Lowland Wet Forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Natalia Tangalin 3529 Oahu PTBG 4/18/2012
12 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Vladimir J. Krajina 611028253 UBC 10/28/1961
13 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN F. Werny 31 UBC 12/16/1959
14 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Vladimir J. Krajina 611202013 UBC 12/2/1961
15 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN V. J.K. 611029020 UBC 10/29/1961
16 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Abbe, E. C. 10070 Oahu US 6/4/1960
17 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kennedy, B. 74 Oahu US 9/10/2018
18 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN B. Kennedy 74 Oahu US 9/10/2018
19 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN m. james 266 Oahu US
20 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN e. c. abbe 10070 Oahu US 6/4/1960
21 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Along dirt road in sugar cane fields. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 1900 Kauai BISH
22 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Teraoka, W.; Nagata, K.; Whiteaker, L.; Silva, B. 365 Oahu US 10/9/1980
23 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN b. kennedy 74 Oahu US 9/10/2018
24 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN derral herbst 1900 WIS 9/3/1970
25 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN sakai collector number: 11 BISH
26 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information exposed PRESERVED_SPECIMEN philpott, j. matsunami, j. collector number: 128 Oahu BISH 6/1/1962
27 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN macdaniels, l.h. collector number: 745 BISH
28 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 1601-0 BISH
29 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 550-Mo Molokai BISH 9/1/1912
30 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN unknown 220 BISH 4/7/1957
31 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 1601.O Oahu BISH 10/1/1910
32 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN urata collector number: s.n. BISH
33 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 1948-0 Maui BISH
34 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. collector number: 17655 Oahu BISH
35 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Growing under Prosopis trees. Occasional. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN collector number: 220 Hawaii BISH 4/7/1957
36 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN collector number: 266 BISH
37 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN palmer, r. 93177 CM 6/7/1993
38 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Rocky pasture. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN garber, d.w. collector number: 372 Hawaii BISH
39 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 18218 MPM 8/21/1932
40 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN selling, o. 3638 GB 9/27/1938
41 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN selling, o. 3364 GB 9/3/1938
42 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information In open forest of Metrosideros, Dicranopteris, Dodonaea, Styphelia, and Vaccinium. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 18219 ID 9/18/1932
43 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 18220 MPM 2/7/1928
44 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Acacia koa- Metrosideros forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN K. R. Wood 8559 Oahu PTBG 6/25/2000
45 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN james macrae; d.1830 s.n. NHMUK 1825-07-09
46 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN David H. Lorence 7731 Maui PTBG 11/16/1995
47 Hibiscus arnottianus A.Gray Contact Bishop Museum Botany department for locality information PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 550.Mo. Molokai BISH 9/1/1912
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