Description
Key Characters:
Growth Form:
Trees 1.5–10 m tall.
Stems:
Few–branched to many-branched (west Maui).
Roots:
Fibrous root system.
Leaves:
Leaves simple.
Alternate spiral.
Blades gradually tapering from near middle, 16–35 cm long, 0.9–1.6(–2.1) cm wide.
Base sessile.
Blades subcoriaceous.
Margins entire.
Veins parallel.
Sessile.
Stipules absent.
Flowers:
Flowers in panicles slightly glaucous, ca. 17–34 (–40) cm long, the lower lateral branches ca.3–12 cm long, peduncles 10–15 cm long, pedicels 8–15 mm long.
Flowers bisexual (perfect); numerous.
Perianth greenish yellow, 45–50 mm long, tube ca. 29–38 mm long, constricted basal part 3–4 mm long, lobes slightly spreading, 11–15 mm long.
Stamens 6, inserted at base of perianth tube; anthers 5–6 mm long.
Ovary superior, 3-celled; ovules 1 per cell; style filiform; stigma capitate or slightly lobed.
Fruit:
Berries red; ca.11–14 mm long.
Seeds usually 1; sometimes 2–3; 6–8 mm long.
Ploidy:
Habitat:
Occurring in remnant dry forest and occasionally in mesic forest.
Elevation Range:
610–1,220 m.