Kadua littoralis
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Kadua littoralis is a plant from the genus Kadua in the family of the Rubiaceae (Rubiaceae). It is endemic to Hawaii .
description
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Vegetative characteristics
Kadua littoralis grows as a perennial , succulent plant whose shoots reach lengths of 0.25 to 0.4 meters. The hairless shoots have a square cross-section and are slightly woody at the base.
The against-constantly arranged on the branches, sessile leaves are available in young shoots on the stems while in older drives in groups on the drive base. The simple, fleshy leaf blade is 3.5 to 13.5 centimeters long and 1.5 to 7.5 centimeters wide, from ovoid to obovate to broadly elliptical, more rarely lanceolate or inverted lanceolate. The bald top of the leaf blade is shiny, while the also hairless underside is dull or shiny. The base of the blade is wedge-shaped or broadly wedge-shaped and is somewhat fused with the stem, the tip of the blade is blunt to pointed or tapered to a point and the edge of the blade is entire. Several pairs of lateral nerves branch off from each side of the leaf median nerve. The stipules are similar to the deciduous leaves, are fused with the base of the leaf blade and thus form a spiky and keeled leaf sheath . The leaf sheath is 0.4 to 0.5 cm long and has a 0.2 to 0.4 cm long, fleshy spike tip.
Generative characteristics
The umbel-shaped and panicle-like , zymous inflorescences are on a 20 to 30 centimeter long shaft. The inflorescences contain several stalked or sessile single flowers. The flower stalks can be between 0 and 2 inches long.
The four-fold flowers are radial symmetry . The indistinctly square flower cup becomes about 0.4 centimeters long. The sepals are fused together to form a calyx tube. The leaf-like calyx lobes are elongated-egg-shaped with a length of 0.2 to 0.6 centimeters and a width of 0.1 to 0.3 centimeters. The fleshy, white petals are fused together like a saucer. The corolla tube reaches a length of 0.8 to 1.1 centimeters and has a non-square cross-section. The four crown lobes reach lengths of 0.4 to 0.5 centimeters. The stylus, which is slightly grooved and enlarged at the tip, is densely hairy in the lower part.
The capsule fruits have a length of 0.6 to 1 centimeter and a thickness of 0.5 to 0.9 centimeters, an inverted cone shape. The mesocarp is fleshy and flakes off when it dries out. The endocarp is somewhat lignified. Each of the fruits contains several dark brown seeds. These are irregularly shield-shaped to broadly wedge-shaped and the seed coat is covered with dark papillae .
Occurrence
The natural range of Kadua littoralis is on some islands belonging to Hawaii . Kadua littoralis is endemic to the islands of Hawai'i , Kaua'i , Maui Moloka'i and O'ahu . The occurrence on Oahu is now considered to be extinct. On Kauaʻi the species occurs in the area around Princeville , while on Molokaʻi it grows in the valleys of Hālawa and Wailau . In Hawai'i there is an occurrence in Honopu -Tal and on Maui the distribution area includes the area around Ke'anae , Wailua and Hanawi and 'Ālau Iceland .
Kadua littoralis thrives at sea level. The species grows in coastal regions on rocky cliffs and scree slopes that are wet from the spray .
Taxonomy
The first description as Kadua littoralis was in 1888 by Wilhelm Hillebrand in Flora of the Hawaiian Islands .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f Kadua littoralis. In: Flora of the Hawaiian Islands. www.botany.si.edu/pacificislandbiodiversity/hawaiianflora, accessed on January 31, 2017 (English).
- ↑ a b Kadua littoralis. In: Native Plants Hawaii. Retrieved January 31, 2017 .
- ^ Kadua littoralis at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed January 31, 2017.
