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Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

(L.) Vahl (1804)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Verbenaceae Genus: Stachytarpheta

‘ōwī [owi], Jamaica vervain, oī [oi], ōwī

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Low, usually spreading annual or perennial herbs 6–12 dm tall, sometimes somewhat woody toward base, often purplish throughout.

Stems: Stems dichotomously branched, sparsely pubescent or glabrate, nodes usually sparsely pilose.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate or opposite. Blades oblong to elliptic or ovate, 2–9(–12) cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide. Upper surfaces glabrate; lower surfaces glabrous to strigose or strigillose on the veins and sometimes margins or sparsely hispidulous, Leaves often bluish or grayish when fresh, somewhat fleshy. Margins serrate, the teeth angled forward. Petioles 0.3–3.5 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in terminal, indeterminate spikes stout and stiff, 15–50 cm long, glabrous, rachis stout and firm, up to 7 mm in diameter, the furrows conspicuously narrower than the rachis; bracts lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, persistent, 5–8 mm long, persistent. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx narrowly tubular, 5-toothed and 5–ribbed, completely embedded in rachis furrows, somewhat compressed, ca. 5 mm long, 2 of the teeth very reduced. Corolla usually pale blue, 8–11 mm long, imbricate. Stamens 2, included in corolla tube, staminodes 2; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2-celled, placentation axile; ovules 1 per cell, attached laterally, erect, anatropous; style elongate, filiform; stigma terminal.

Fruit: Schizocarps dry; oblong–linear; splitting at maturity into 2 hard cocci; enclosed by the persistent calyx. Seeds 1 per fruit; linear.

Ploidy: 2n = 160

Habitat: Open; dry; disturbed areas.

Elevation Range: 0–490 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • 0-490 m
  • Description digitized by Joanne
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • Lanai in 1913
  • hybridizes with S. urticifolia found from Kolekole Pass, Waianae Mountains, and Waimanalo, Oahu, but they probably occur anywhere the 2 species grow together

Bibliography

Name Published In: Enum. Pl. Obs. 1: 206 (1804)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1322 (Mi, K, O, L, M, Ka, H); Oppenheimer 2003:26 (Mo); Jonathan Plissner pers. comm. 2025 (Mi†, 2012)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Wailua Game Reserve, above Wailua on plots stripmined for bauxite ore in 1958-60. Base ore, no overburden, no soil treatment Preserved_Specimen stems quite fleshy; flowers blue Howard, R.A. 20187 Kauai BISH 1985-10-20
2 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Honolulu, Pupukea Ridge roadside weed, grassland, kaolite clay Preserved_Specimen Lee, J. 5 Oahu BISH 1981-10-01
3 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kahuku sandy loam; grassland Preserved_Specimen tiny purple-blue flowers on the sides Hai, N. 63 Oahu BISH 1975-03-11
4 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kapapa Islet, Kaneohe Bay Raised coral reef with shallow, sandy soil Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6109 Oahu BISH 1978-05-24
5 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kolekole Pass Grassy slope. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12680 Oahu BISH 1940-02-25
6 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis 100 yards S of Kahuku Hospital sandy clay Preserved_Specimen spreading herb, 2-4 ft. McCulloch, R. 12 Oahu BISH 1975-04-11
7 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kailua, Kawainui Marsh Dike. S end, Mauka side Growing on bank, about 2 feet from waters edge. Associated vegetation- Cyclosorus interruptus, Cyperus polystachyos, Commelina diffusa, Pluchea indica, Cyndon dactylon, Eleocharis geniculata, Bacopa monnieri, Mimosa pudica. Preserved_Specimen Slightly-woody subshrub, 1-1.5 feet tall. Spike inflorescence with light purple zygomorphic flowers. Very fragile--falling off when disurbed. Crago, L.M. 2005037 Oahu BISH 2005-02-25
8 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Koko Head, Maunalua District dry Preserved_Specimen Onouye, R. Oahu BISH 1934-04-07
9 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Makolelau. Haole koa shrubland. Preserved_Specimen Low growing annual, 18 cm tall. Leaves opposite. Flowers embedded, spike thicker than S. urticifolia. Occasional naturalized weed. Hughes, G.D. 32 Molokai BISH 1992-03-03
10 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Mokulua South, Oahu S slope Preserved_Specimen Rare. A few plants on south slope. Starr, F. 5022316 Oahu BISH 2005-02-23
11 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kolekole Pass grassy slope Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12678 Oahu BISH 1940-02-25
12 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kawela Bay roadside weed Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9541 Oahu BISH 1933-03-01
13 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis base of Hauula mountain range, by the side of jeep trail, ~1.5 mi from Kam Hwy shaded areas around Haole koa and guava trees Preserved_Specimen Herb, leaves pale and the inflorescence short. Herat, T. 116 Oahu BISH 1972-08-11
14 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis E, 9.4 mi E of Ulupalakua Ranch on Piilani Hwy. (Hwy.31), 3.5 mi W of Manawainui disturbed shrubland dominated by Lantana Preserved_Specimen flowers blue Wagner, W.L. 4764 Maui BISH 1983-01-14
15 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Mokulua, north islet, Kailua dry slope Preserved_Specimen fls blue Fosberg, F.R. 12933 Oahu BISH 1936-02-16
16 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis along Kam Highway, Laie sandy clay Preserved_Specimen spreading herb, lower branches half woody and grayish; leaves oblong-ovate, oppositely arranged, margin serrate; calyx narrow; corolla tubular with 5 petals Tiu, C. 30 Oahu BISH 1975-02-08
17 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Laie Preserved_Specimen woody herb Beckham, N. 51 Oahu BISH 1967-04-15
18 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kalaupapa; airport, 200 m WSW of runway start Preserved_Specimen perennial herb Wood, K.R. 11119 Molokai BISH 2005-01-27
19 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kolekole Pass Growing with Coll. #12,547 & #12,548 among grass & Lantana. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12549 Oahu BISH 1939-04-02
20 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 288 Lanai BISH 1913-10-22
21 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kolekole Pass Growing with Coll. #12,547 & #12,548 among grass & Lantana. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12549 Oahu BISH 1939-04-02
22 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kipapa Gulch, Wahiawa moderately moist pineapple field Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 426 Oahu BISH 1931-06-18
23 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Mokolii Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5041943 Oahu BISH 2005-04-19
24 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kapapa, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Occasional. Scattered plants. Starr, F. 5041839 Oahu BISH 2005-04-18
25 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Along road to Halawa Valley at Alanuipuhipaka Ridge Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 110141 Molokai BISH 2001-11-18
26 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis unknown Preserved_Specimen BISH
27 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Palawai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 295 Lanai BISH 1928-02-09
28 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Sideris, J. Oahu BISH 1932-01-09
29 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Lanai City, near Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28500 Lanai BISH 1963-07-28
30 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kealia trail Preserved_Specimen Bennett, T. 239 Oahu BISH 1982-03-25
31 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Mokolii Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-09-24
32 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Laniloa Point Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-07-31
33 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Ko'olau Mountain; Pupukea, Paumaiu area, summit trail extending from Pupukea Road Preserved_Specimen Ziegler, M.F. Oahu BISH 1986-11-08
34 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Maunawainui ridge Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1914-04-03
35 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Makahoa Point Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-08-02
36 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Octavio, A.M. Oahu BISH 1929-11-28
37 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Puu Manawahua, Waianae Mts., Honouliuli Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 56 Oahu BISH 1929-11-10
38 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Honolulu District: Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Bruegmann, M.M. 108 Oahu BISH 1983-12-03
39 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Waialae roadside weed Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11049 Oahu BISH 1937-03-03
40 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range On bare scraped limestone. Under Pluchea. With Waltheria indica, Psilotum nudum, Leucaena leucocephala, Casuarina equisetifolia and Prosopis palida. Preserved_Specimen Leaf mid-ribs and stems purple. Flowers pale purple, very deciduous. BISH staff 43 Oahu BISH 2021-05-04
41 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kolekole Pass grasses & Lantana Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12547 Oahu BISH 1939-04-02
42 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Luamakika, below In dense growth of Bothriochloa pertusa Preserved_Specimen Flowers blue Wagner, W.L. 5775 Kahoolawe BISH 1988-02-24
43 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Wailua Game Management Area at the end of Kalama Rd. Bauxite test site Preserved_Specimen weed in fenced enclosure Flynn, T.W. 1514 Kauai BISH 1986-02-11
44 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Hanauma Ridge, Honolulu Growing in dusturbed roadside habitat, dry, full sun, with Lepidium virginicum and Emilia fosbergii. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb, erect, ca. 20-25 cm tall; corolla light blue, ca. 5-6 plants seen. Ross, M.C. 1990 Oahu BISH 2024-04-29
45 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Kolekole Pass grassy slope Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12679 Oahu BISH 1940-02-25
46 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis road by gym to PCC from BYU-HC clay, rocky; newly plowed or wasteland Preserved_Specimen herb or small shrub, creepig flowers commonly borne in grooves on spikes Utai, M. 839 Oahu BISH 1975-03-01
47 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Volcanoes National Park, Kau. Along Puna Coast Trail in kipuka; among grasses Preserved_Specimen Herat, T. 880 Hawaii BISH 1974-07-01
48 Stachytarpheta jamaicensis E ridge of Koloa Gulch, land of Laie, Koolauloa District, Koolau Mts with Stachytarpheta cayennensis Preserved_Specimen glabrous or glabrate shrub 0.6 m Nagata, K.M. 3259 Oahu BISH 1985-06-10
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