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Abutilon menziesii

Seem. (1865)

This name is accepted

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

ko‘oloa ‘ula [kooloaula]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Diffusely branched shrubs (or trees) up to 2(–3) m tall, closely velvety stellate pubescent.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades deeply cordate–ovate, 3–10(–14) cm long, sometimes angulately 3–lobed. Apex acute to long-acuminate. Surfaces stellate pubescent. Margins finely to coarsely crenate to serrate. Petioles 2.5–5(–8) cm long. Stipules usually present.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in the leaf axils, pendulous, pedicels 2.5–3.5(–5) cm long, articulate, involucel absent. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx campanulate to cup-shaped, 1.1–1.7(–2.2) cm long, glabrate or densely pubescent, lobes 5, sometimes remaining joined in twos or threes, reflexed, valvate in bud. Corolla actinomorphic to moderately zygomorphic, rotate to reflexed, corolla of 5 petals, obovate, maroon grading to yellow basally, unguiculate, emarginate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, convolute in bud. Stamens 5 to numerous, monadelphous, forming a staminal column, staminal column, yellowish, exserted, 2–2.8 cm long, conspicuously antheriferous apically; filaments spreading, 2–3.5 mm long; anthers monothecal. Ovary superior, (1-)3-celled to many-celled, carpels 5 to numerous, borne in a single whorl or rarely seemingly superposed whorls; ovule placentation axile, each with 2-9 ovules in a vertical row; style branches maroon, exceeding the staminal column, branches as many as carpels; stigmas terminal, capitate.

Fruit: Schizocarps; often tardily separating and appearing capsular; pale brown; cylindrical; 8-10(-13) mm long; closely pubescent; mericarps (6)7-8; oblong; apiculate or short-spined; lateral walls usually smooth; loculicidally dehiscent in upper 1/2. Seeds 3 per mericarp; dark brown; reniform; 2–2.5 mm long; striate papillate and striate stellulate pubescent; with or without endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 28*

Habitat: Uncommon and local in dry forest.

Elevation Range: 200–520 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • The hard seed capsule of Abutilon menziesii is pale brown, fuzzy, and 3/8 inch long. It contains 18 to 24 small, dark brown seeds. When the capsule opens, the seeds are scattered by the wind shaking the plant. of Abutilon menziesii hybridizes with other species of Abutilon so collect seeds from plants that are distant from other Abutilon species.
  • If seeds do not shake out of the dry capsule, the capsule can be opened with a knife and the seeds removed. Abutilon sp. have a high germination rate (95%). Koob does not recommend soaking the seeds, but most other sources state that soaking shortens the germination time from 3 to 6 months for untreated seed to 2 to 4 weeks for soaked seeds. Soaking recommendations vary from 1 to 24 hours using either room temperature or hot water. Soak the seeds until they sink and disgard any floaters.
  • Sow seeds on the surface or up to 1/4 inch deep in a well-draining medium such as 3 parts #2 perlite to 1 part #4 Sunshine Mix or 1 part peat to 1 part perlite to 1 part soil. Koob suggests potting mix. Keep the medium moist but not wet and put the containers in part shade until the seeds germinate.
  • Seed should be dried before being stored. Storage recommendations vary; silica gel and refrigeration may improve the length of time seeds remain viable. Koob states that seeds in cold storage are viable for several years though they may take longer to germinate than fresh seed does. (Bornhorst 1996; Koob 2000; Stratton 1998; Wagner 1990)
  • Abutilon menziesii can be grown from cuttings, but it is difficult. (Koob 2000)
  • Abutilon menziesii can be grown by air-layering. (Bornhorst 1996) [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
Lana'i Endemic
Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • 200-520 m
  • A collection from an abandoned cane-field at 'Ewa, O'ahu, made in 1981 probably represents an escape from cultivation
  • At that time all cultivated plants were descended from the Puako, Hawai'i, popula-tion; this population was later destroyed by cattle during an unusually dry year. More Recently the Lāna'i plants were brought into cultivation. Hillebrand (1888) recognized a Lydgate Collection from Lāna'i varietally (B), but no distinction is made here, although specimens from Lāna'i have densely pubescent calyces, pale corollas, and large mericarps. This species has been federally listed as endangered It is also known as Ko'oloa'ula
  • Description digitized by Ellena Ruiz
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Vit.: 15 (1865)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:873 (O? [single spm. in 1981 from abandoned ‘Ewa canefield], L, M, H); Herbarium Pacificum Staff 1999:4 (O? [additional seemingly wild spms.]); Staples & Herbst 2005:385 (KEY, DESCR); Oppenheimer 2011:8 (WM); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:192 (O, populations now treated as naturally occurring)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 506 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
2 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 110 Lanai BISH 1913-08-01
3 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 264 Lanai BISH 1928-01-20
4 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Ca. 25 plants scattered over 100 acres in abandoned sugar cane fields. In company with Abutilon incanum, Sida fallax, Waltheria & Chloris. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 4' high in fruit & flower. Nagata, K.M. 4433 Oahu BISH 1996-09-27
5 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2533 Maui BISH 1986-03-01
6 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 326 Lanai BISH 1914-09-03
7 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 1901 Oahu BISH 1985-01-01
8 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. 2434 Oahu BISH 1938-12-10
9 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 669 Lanai BISH 1918-06-18
10 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Pukui, M.K. Hawaii BISH 1930-01-01
11 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1934-02-01
12 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Yamaki, C. Oahu BISH 1984-09-17
13 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1919-02-17
14 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1913-12-27
15 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1937-09-25
16 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1919-02-17
17 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 24 Lanai BISH 1913-08-01
18 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Shrub 1.5 m with diffuse-spreading habit. Leaves pale gray-green. Preserved_Specimen Leaves pale gray-green. Flowers with pale green calyx; corolla and stamens burgundy. Ripe capsules brown. Lorence, D.H. 8169 Kauai BISH 1997-12-08
19 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Associated with Prosopis and Sida. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1991-01-28
20 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Five plants in a cluster, the tallest 10 ft. tall, on level ground in a clearing between kiawe with a dense growth of Sida. Preserved_Specimen Plant tallest 10 ft. Hobdy, R.W. 2044 Maui BISH 1984-03-24
21 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Aspect: South. Rare. Dry forest. Dodonaea, Myoporum, Santalum, Heteropogon, Nototrichium, Erythrina, Bidens, Wikstroemia, Schinus, Lantana, Grevillea, Leucaena, Cenchrus Preserved_Specimen large patches with densely tangled branches Pezzillo, Z. 8 Maui BISH 2022-03-01
22 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Shaded by kiawe trees (Prosopis). Habitat dry, elevated from the winter wet lower gullies. Preserved_Specimen Single isolated plant ca. 1.5 m ht, 2 m wide, in bloom, & beginning to fruit; flower color pinkish red. Obata, J.K. 0.5 Oahu BISH 1996-02-27
23 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Leucaena-Dodonaea-Panicum maximum scrub. Preserved_Specimen Population of 13 individuals. Flowers red. Hobdy, R.W. 4040 Lanai BISH 1990-01-18
24 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dry exotic grassland with mixed native and exotic shrubs. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2500 Lanai BISH 1979-08-30
25 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details At least 10 seen in a 10 acre area in abandoned sugar cane fields with Abutilon incanum, Sida, Waltheria & Chloris. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 3' high. Nagata, K.M. 4439 Oahu BISH 1996-10-03
26 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Cultivated in native Hawaiian plants section. Endangered. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 1.5 meters, with diffuse-spreading habit. Leaves pale gray-green. Flowers with pale green calyx; corolla and stamens burgundy. Ripe capsules brown. Lorence, D.H. 8169 Kauai BISH 1997-12-08
27 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Degraded alien vegetation with Sida fallax, Dodnaea viscosa, Panimum maximus, Lantana camare, Leucaena leucocephala, Casuarina eqquisetifolia Preserved_Specimen Flower, immature fruit, 3 meter ht Perlman, S. 23286 Lanai BISH 2013-02-07
28 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Growing in assoc. with Diospyros-Metrosideros dry forest Preserved_Specimen A tree-like shrub up 6 m tall, clumped branching form base with dbh 0.8 m. Leaves pale green, sparsely tomentose above, velvety tomentulose below; blades ovate-orbicular-to 15 cm long x 13 cm wide. Fruit a dehiscent ten-celled capsule Spence, G. 31 Oahu BISH 1972-03-19
29 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Degraded alien vegetation with Sida fallax, Dodnaea viscosa, Panimum maximum, Lantana camare, Leucaena leucocephala Preserved_Specimen Plants 3 meter ht. with flowers Perlman, S. 23284 Lanai BISH 2013-02-06
30 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In area, native veg. mostly on aa lava flows, in Erythrina sandwicensis lowland dry forest with Reynoldsia sandwicensis, Nesoluma polynesicum, Sida fallax, Chenopodium oahuense, Achyranthes splendens var. splendens, Diospyros sandwicensis, Nototrichium sandwicensis, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Chamaesyce, Myoporum, Capparis, Acacia koaia, Prosopis. Preserved_Specimen Perlman, S. 6692 Maui BISH 1987-10-28
31 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Partially shaded. Preserved_Specimen A shrub densely branched at the base, 2 m tall. Stems erect or arching. Flowers rose pink to dark pink, odorless (morning). Lau, J. 2579 Oahu BISH 1986-06-30
32 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On steep, N slope of intermittent stream. Vegetation: Erythrina, Leucaena, Panicum maximum, Cenchrus ciliaris, Sida, Merremia aegyptia, Sicyos, Lantana, Melanthera, Plumbago, Lipochaeta, Aleurites, A. grandifolium, Myoporum, Achyranthes splendens. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 40924 Maui BISH 2009-04-17
33 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Abandoned cane field. Associated spp: Desmanthus virgatus, Sida fallax, koa-hoale. Preserved_Specimen One plant, about 2 m tall. Char, W.P. 81.002 Oahu BISH 1981-01-23
34 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 2.5 m tall. Petals scarlet. Flowers not fragrant (midmorning). Lau, J. 1149 Oahu BISH 1985-06-27
35 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dry Panicum maximum-dominated grassland with Leucaena leucocephala, Sida fallax, Lipochaeta lavarum. Preserved_Specimen Population of at least 20 plants up to 6 ft tall, near end of fruiting period. Imada, C. 200311 Lanai BISH 2003-06-16
36 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Ground in a clearing between kiawe with a dense growth of Sida. Preserved_Specimen Plant tallest 10 ft. Hobdy, R.W. 2044 Maui BISH 1984-03-24
37 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In degraded veg. turning to alien veg. with Dodonaea viscosa, Sida fallax, Leucaena leucocephala, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Prosopis pallida Preserved_Specimen Few scattered shrubs, 6-8ft. ht. very chewed up by deer, rare, flowers pink to red. Perlman, S. 16587 Lanai BISH 1999-05-11
38 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In Dodonaea viscosa lowland dry shrubland with Prosopis, Sida, Leucaena about 35 plants counted in area. Preserved_Specimen Shrubs 6-10 ft ht with flowers and fruit. Perlman, S. 5906 Lanai BISH 1987-05-26
39 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Erythrina sandwicensis, Sida fallax, Capparis sandwichiana, Chenopodium, Waltheria, Argemone glauca, Sicyos hispidus, Nototrichium Preserved_Specimen 2 m many branched tree; spreading 7 m x 7 m; stems gray brown; petiole yellow green; leaves blue green with white tinge of soft hairs; calyx light green; corolla with petals deep red and inner tube white green; style yellow green Wood, K.R. 5132 Maui BISH 1996-04-23
40 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Aspect South. Rare. Dry Forest. Dodonaea, Myoporum, Santalum, Heteropogon, Nototrichium, Erythrina, Bidens, Wikstroemia, Schinus, Lantana, Grevillea, Leucaena, Cenchrus Preserved_Specimen large patches with densely tangled branches Pezzillo, Z. 7 Maui BISH 2022-03-01
41 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Open dry shrubland of Kiawe (Prosopis pallida) with Buffle grass (Cenchrus ciliarus) and Aalii (Dodonea viscosa) Preserved_Specimen shrubs 1-2m tall, multibranching, inflorescenes pendant, flowers dark red 15-20 individuals. Ching, S. 2023072701 Oahu BISH 2023-07-27
42 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Angular leaves, attenuate. Hobdy, R.W. 1925 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
43 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Plant #1- Leaves narrow, coarsely unevenly serrate, apex attenuate, cordate base not overlapping, peduncles 15 mm (6 mm to first joint 9 mm to calyx) Hobdy, R.W. 1929 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
44 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Two shrubs 1 1/2 m tall, side by side, flowers pale maroon with slightly flesh colored central portion. Hobdy, R.W. 2532 Maui BISH 1986-03-01
45 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Leaves short attenuate, teeth moderate to fine; flowers maroon. Hobdy, R.W. 1928 Maui BISH 1984-02-04
46 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Finely serrate. Hobdy, R.W. 1926 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
47 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Some variation in leaf dentition and overall shape; about 4 large plants, several medium and small plants, several seedlings. Hobdy, R.W. 1967 Lanai BISH 1984-02-18
48 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Plant #2- Leaves round, attenuate. Hobdy, R.W. 1930 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
49 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Bennett, T. 42 Oahu BISH 1982-01-30
50 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen 3 m sprawling shrub; flowers deep carmine red Fosberg, F.R. 64298 Oahu BISH 1984-03-23
51 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Teeth coarsely dentate, apex short attenuate to acute; flowers a deep rich maroon. Hobdy, R.W. 1927 Hawaii BISH 1984-02-01
52 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Plant #2- Leaves round, attenuate. Hobdy, R.W. 1930 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
53 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Flowers of different shade of color growing on plants transferred there from Maluea, Lanai. This variety has not grown from scattered seed there like the other coarser variety. Munro, G.C. 305 Lanai BISH 1928-03-29
54 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Leaves short attenuate, teeth moderate to fine; flowers maroon. Hobdy, R.W. 1928 Maui BISH 1984-02-04
55 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Form with long caudate leaves and slightly 3 lobed. Hobdy, R.W. 2470 Maui BISH 1985-12-01
56 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Fl. claret red. Goto, B. Hawaii BISH 1971-05-01
57 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 6 Lanai BISH 1927-05-28
58 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. 105 Lanai BISH
59 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Some variation in leaf dentition and overall shape; about 4 large plants, several medium and small plants, several seedlings. Hobdy, R.W. 1967 Lanai BISH 1984-02-18
60 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lyon, M.F. Oahu BISH 1935-04-25
61 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1913-12-27
62 Abutilon menziesii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Shrub ca. 6 ft. high w/purplish-red flws. Moribe, J. Oahu BISH 1996-01-30
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