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Odontonema cuspidatum

(Nees) Kuntze (1891)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Odontonema

fire spike, firespike, odontonema

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrub 2.4–3 m tall, ± glabrous.

Stems: Stems 4–angled.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes). Blades elliptic to oblong, 12.7–30.4 cm x 2.5–3.8 cm. Apex often curved. Surfaces glossy deep green; Blades usually with cystoliths. Margins entire and undulate. Sessile or nearly so. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers crowded in terminal Inflorescences; erect, stalked panicle; bracts inconspicuous. Bracts spatula–shaped, usually < 1 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx 5-lobed, lobes awl-shaped, equal. Corolla scarlet, tubular, ca 2.5 cm long. Fertile stamens 2, reaching mouth of tube, inserted on the corolla alternate with the lobes; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Sterile stamen 2 borne near base of corolla. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate; ovule placentation axile; style filiform, simple.

Fruit: Capsules with two cells; club–shaped; usually dehiscing explosively. Seeds 4; semicircular; ca 0.25 cm long; warty; on small hooked stalks (modified funiculus) that ejects the Seeds from the capsule; embryos usually large; endosperm absent.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Tolerant of a wide array of environmental conditions (except for salt exposure); fire–spike grows in cool; moist valleys as well as drier; sunny lowlands.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to Central American forests; cultivated as an ornamental in Hawai‘i for many years under the incorrect name of O. strictum. Although fruit has rarely been observed in Hawai‘i, fire-spike has been found in several seemingly wild locations and

Bibliography

Name Published In: Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 494 (1891)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:167 (K?, O?, H? [as O. strictum, non-cult. plants not appearing to set fruit, thus not truly nat.]); Lorence et al. 1995:20 (NEWNAT/K, DESCR, O. strictum misapplied = O. cuspidatum); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2002:2 (EM); Staples et al. 2002:4 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:81 (KEY), 88 (DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2007:9 (O)

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Staples, G., & Herbst, D. R. (2005). A Tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press.

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Odontonema cuspidatum Kawaihau District, Wailua Homesteads, Nounou Trail Kuamoo entrance, just before the bridge and along the stream. Invaded riparian corridor W/ Megathyrsus maximus, Sphagnetiocola triloba, Ipomoea ochracea, Citharexylum caudatum, Persea americana, Psidium cattleianum. Macroptilium, Costus, Philodendron rubrum, Epipremnum pinnatum, Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 5166 Kauai BISH 2021-04-16
2 Odontonema cuspidatum Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, near Puu oo road Collected in collapsed lava tube, growing with Metrosideros and Tropaeolum, about 30 feet from road. Surrounding area is Pennisetum (kikuyu) - Axonopus - Hypochoeris pasture on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 93 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-04
3 Odontonema cuspidatum North of radio station at Helemano Military Reservation (see map). Helemano Road, turn left onto dirt road and go through the Helemano gate; plant found at first stream crossing Rocky soil substrate. Flat gulch bottom with closed overstory 5-10 m height, dominated by Chrysophyllum oliviforme, with Falcataria moluccana, Aleurites moluccana; understory of Panicum maximum. Partial shade (5-50%). Mesic (50-75 inches/year). Preserved_Specimen Beachy, J. Oahu BISH 2003-08-19
4 Odontonema cuspidatum East Maui, Hana District, SE of Hamoa to Waioka, along Hwy 31 at Kapia Stream Coastal pasture lands; Maka`alae, at edge of large Terminalia/Syzygium grove. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2577 Maui BISH 1987-10-27
5 Odontonema cuspidatum Keaukaha, off Nene St. 50' from Kalanianiole Hwy In small ravine; associated with Paederia, Malvaviscus, Allamanda and Spathodea. Preserved_Specimen Ishikawa, S. 208 Hawaii BISH 1973-01-12
6 Odontonema cuspidatum Waimea District; Kokee, Camp 10 road, near Waineke swamp. Growing along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Brock, K. 922 Kauai BISH 2016-11-21
7 Odontonema cuspidatum Kokee, NW side of Hwy 550 at intersection with Halemanu Road Mixed with Rubus, Passiflora and Kikuyu grass. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1583 Kauai BISH 1986-03-04
8 Odontonema cuspidatum Kona District, Manoa Lyon Arboretum:H38-Near the stream at the end of access trail near pile of rocks. Preserved_Specimen Dunn, L. 578 Oahu BISH 2015-10-07
9 Odontonema cuspidatum Along Saddle Road about 10 mi in from Waimea Above pastures in forest. Preserved_Specimen Hawaii BISH
10 Odontonema cuspidatum South Kona, near Hookena On roadside with Schinus and other non-native vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 2073 Hawaii BISH 1987-08-22
11 Odontonema cuspidatum Waianae Mountains, Ka'ala summit, just south of FAA facility, in a bowl below a concrete sidewalk and old tunnels. Growing into native forest. Wet native and non native vegetation. Growing with Metrosideros polymorpha Broussaisia arguta, Araucaria columnaris, Rubus argutus. Preserved_Specimen Beachy, J. 356 Oahu BISH 2014-10-23
12 Odontonema cuspidatum East Maui, Hana District, Wailua, E of Wailua Falls, Honolewa Stream Growing near the road. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 119923 Maui BISH 1999-11-28
13 Odontonema cuspidatum Nuuanu Pali Drive, near Judd Trailhead. Honolulu Along side of road, wet forest. Associated vegetation- Ficus, Pothos, Hau Preserved_Specimen OED 608102 Oahu BISH 2006-08-10
14 Odontonema cuspidatum Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, Puu Oo Road Collected in collapsed lava tube, growing with Metrosideros and Tropaeolum, about 30 ft from road. Surrounding area is Pennisetum (kikuyu)-Axonopus-Hypochoeris pasture on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 93 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-04
15 Odontonema cuspidatum Koloa, Lawai Valley, S end of Lehelehe Rd., S of old pineapple cannery on Lauoho Rd., G. Davis, E bank of Lawai Stream, next to NTBG moist; evergreen, Inga, Syzygium cumini, Samanea saman, Aleurites moluccana Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 9075 Kauai BISH 2003-05-26
16 Odontonema cuspidatum South Kona, near Hookena On roadside with Schinus and other non-native vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 2073 Hawaii BISH 1987-08-22
17 Odontonema cuspidatum East Maui, Hana District, Kakio Growing near the roadside in dense shade. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 119920 Maui BISH 1999-11-27
18 Odontonema cuspidatum Kailua, Maunawili Circle. Residential yard Plant may have been originally taken from an abandoned property in the neighborhood 25+ years ago. Since then it has spread in large patches around the yard and into neighboring yards. Preserved_Specimen Nemechek, R. Oahu BISH 2007-07-31
19 Odontonema cuspidatum Lihue, Ahina Rd, above Huleia Sream Growing in shade of understory next to road Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 1587 Kauai BISH 2007-09-26
20 Odontonema cuspidatum Honolulu: Foster Botanic Garden Preserved_Specimen Hutchison, P.C. 2855 Oahu BISH 1967-01-20
21 Odontonema cuspidatum University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu. Magoon Greenhouse Facility Potted; growing under shade cloth. Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 1341 Oahu BISH 1985-08-23
22 Odontonema cuspidatum Lawai. Along Koloa Road between Piko Road and Hailima Road Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1859 Kauai BISH 1986-08-13
23 Odontonema cuspidatum University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 586 Oahu BISH 1967-09-10
24 Odontonema cuspidatum Mokuleia Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30177 Oahu BISH 1965-09-01
25 Odontonema cuspidatum University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-24
26 Odontonema cuspidatum Honolulu, Judd St., residence of A. F. Judd Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1938-11-21
27 Odontonema cuspidatum Kaimuki, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Illingworth, J.F. Oahu BISH 1939-12-07
28 Odontonema cuspidatum Kamehameha Girls' School, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1937-09-25
29 Odontonema cuspidatum Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-24
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