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Hypoestes phyllostachya

Baker (1887)

This name is accepted

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

freckle face, polka dot plant, polka-dot plant

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Potentially naturalizing

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Hawai'i Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Wind

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 22: 511 (1887)

Other References

Herbst & Wagner 1999:12 (NEWNAT/H); Staples & Herbst 2005:80 (KEY), 86 (DESCR); Note: status changed from nat to nat? as plants are only recorded as spreading within a garden, May 2025

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Hypoestes phyllostachya South Kona district, at the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Capt. Cook Abandoned garden in backyard of house. Preserved_Specimen Cultivated ornamental; herbaceous plant with colorfully dotted leaves. Staples, G.W. 625 Hawaii BISH 1990-05-19
2 Hypoestes phyllostachya University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu. Magoon Greenhouse Facility Potted; growing under shade-cloth. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 0.7 m tall; leaves have a reddish cast, with rose pink spots. Corolla purple. Flower lacks fragrance (noon). Lau, J. 1328 Oahu BISH 1985-08-19
3 Hypoestes phyllostachya Koloa Dist.; Kalaheo. Cultivated plants from yard at 4543A Puuwai Rd Preserved_Specimen Erect herb of 1 ft.; stems glossy brownish-green, pale green at nodes; petioles brownish-green' lvs dull dark green w/irregular pink spotting, below dull medium to pale green w/whitish spotting & glossy veins; corolla pale lilac w/out, darker w/in; stamens 2. Flowers fading by mid afternoon. Flynn, T.W. 5988 Kauai BISH 1996-07-12
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