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Boerhavia acutifolia

(Choisy) J.W.Moore (1934)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Nyctaginaceae Genus: Boerhavia

alena, anena (ni‘ihau), nena

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Slender, prostrate herbs, forming loose mats, glabrous or subglabrous, rarely sparsely pilosulous, or some populations more densely so.

Stems:

Roots: Thickened root-crown.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades narrowly ovate, broadly lanceolate, or ovate–triangular, usually 1–2.5(–6) cm long. Apex acute, usually minutely apiculate. Base obtuse to subtruncate, rarely subacute. Margins often prominently crispate. Petioles 0.5–1 cm long, rarely longer. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in peduncles 2–10 cm long, capillary to rather stout, sometimes irregularly so or 2– branched, rays unequal, 0.5–2.5 cm long, acuminate, scale-like bracts at articulations, these caducous. involucre absent. Flowers bisexual (perfect), borne in axillary, pedunculate, umbelliform, or glomerate cymes. Perianth strongly constricted, lower part noticeably glandular, somewhat costate, limb white to pink, campanulate, 1–2(–3) mm long, minutely glandular. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 2 or sometimes 3. Ovary superior, sessile, 1-celled; ovule 1, basal; style 1, filiform, unbranched; stigma capitate or somewhat disk–shaped, exserted.

Fruit: Anthocarps obovoid–subacute to sometimes broadly clavate; ca. 3 mm long; somewhat glandular in furrows; glabrate when mature; ribs prominent; flat–topped; glabrous. Seeds 1 per fruit; closely enclosed by the thin ovary wall.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Shores; sea cliffs; and lower slopes; especially on leeward sides.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Indigenous
Kaua'i Indigenous
Manawai (Pearl & Hermes Atoll) Not in flora
O'ahu Indigenous
Molokai Indigenous
Kamole(Laysan Island) Indigenous
Lana'i Indigenous
Kaho'olawe Indigenous
Maui Indigenous
Hawai'i Indigenous

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Occas. Pap. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Mus. 10(19) 6 (1934)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:978 (Ni, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H [as B. glabrata]); Lorence & Flynn 1999:5 (K); Herbst & Wagner 1999:24 (B. glabrata misapplied = B. acutifolia); Staples et al. 2003:15 (PH, La); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:195 (remove PH [re-IDed as B. repens])

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Boerhavia acutifolia Makai of Kahikinui aa soil at coast Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19337 Maui BISH 1948-12-23
2 Boerhavia acutifolia N. Kona. Kailua-Kona Growing along Ali`i Drive. Preserved_Specimen Common sprawling herb, flowers dark pink, stems light pink, leaves thick, succulent. Davis, J. 513 Hawaii BISH 1981-06-13
3 Boerhavia acutifolia just N of Poolenalena lava flows near coast Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2022 Maui BISH 1984-03-14
4 Boerhavia acutifolia East Maui, Hana Dist. Ka Iwi O Pele Secondary forest dominated by Hibiscus, Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Schinus and Ardisia. Steep, NE slope. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate, mat forming herb. Flynn, T.W. 2622 Maui BISH 1987-11-13
5 Boerhavia acutifolia Paliamano Gulch, On rocky ledge. On rocky ledge. Vegetation: Prosopis, Botriochloa, Leucaena, Pluchea. Preserved_Specimen Northing: 2304094; Easting: 709479 Oppenheimer, H.L. 31917 Lanai BISH 2019-03-12
6 Boerhavia acutifolia Koko Head open, dry slope Preserved_Specimen vine Hume, E.P. 291 Oahu BISH 1931-11-11
7 Boerhavia acutifolia Makai of Kahikinui aa soil at coast Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19337 Maui BISH 1948-12-23
8 Boerhavia acutifolia Koko Head, Maunalua dry, wind swept Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.J. Oahu BISH 1933-03-25
9 Boerhavia acutifolia Molokini Islet central crest Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. Maui BISH 1982-02-14
10 Boerhavia acutifolia Between Kawaihae & Waimea Arid cattle range. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30278 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-13
11 Boerhavia acutifolia Kiei Islet on west side Rare. Preserved_Specimen Couple healthy patches on west side of middle terrace. Starr, F. 6040613 Lanai BISH 2006-04-06
12 Boerhavia acutifolia Moomomi; clearing in proposed mining tract (parcel 8) Sandy clearing, spatially associated with breaks in Prosopis canopy. Preserved_Specimen Common creeping herb. Takeuchi, W.N. 2960 Molokai BISH 1986-10-30
13 Boerhavia acutifolia Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, University High School In a grass lawn in full sun. Preserved_Specimen A prostrate subshrub forming a mat 1.5 m across. The flowers are purple. Lau, J. 1383 Oahu BISH 1985-09-02
14 Boerhavia acutifolia Kalaupapa trail coastal sands by beach Preserved_Specimen prostrate St.John, H. 25246 Molokai BISH 1953-12-25
15 Boerhavia acutifolia Laysan sandy, near Casuarina equisetifolia Preserved_Specimen prostrate Tsuda, R.T. 490 Laysan Island BISH 1963-12-04
16 Boerhavia acutifolia Kaalualu Bay near South Point Found on coastal area in lava and at the edges of Scaevola thickets. Preserved_Specimen Creeping herb w. white fls. Whistler, W.A. 5 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
17 Boerhavia acutifolia Mokapu Peninsula, Ulupau Head creeping on forehills nd roadside Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. 1 Oahu BISH 1923-08-05
18 Boerhavia acutifolia Talus slump just east of Kalama Point With south exposure and a very steep (50 degrees) slope. Other plants growing in sparse patches: Prosopis, Jacquemontia, Leucaena, Waltheria, Capparis, Echinochloa colona, and Heteropogon contortus. Preserved_Specimen Clarke, G. 397 Kahoolawe BISH 1980-04-23
19 Boerhavia acutifolia Honolulu, Kalihi side of Bishop Museum grass Preserved_Specimen Mitchell, D.D. Oahu BISH 1960-05-27
20 Boerhavia acutifolia 5 mi SW of Ewa, 1/2 mi E of Barbers Point, inside base behind beach with Sesuvium, Heliotropium Preserved_Specimen Henrickson, J.S. 3824 Oahu BISH 1969-07-05
21 Boerhavia acutifolia SE Island, E side Sandy soil. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate plant height 0.05 m. Flower white to pale lavender. Conant, S. 142 Pearl & Hermes Atoll BISH 1983-07-21
22 Boerhavia acutifolia Smugglers Cove Above strand on coastal plain. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1750 Kahoolawe BISH 1983-04-13
23 Boerhavia acutifolia Route 440, 500 m. mauka of the Young Brothers Terminal. WGS coordinates: Lat. 20.790802, Long -156.987959 Rocky soil, fully exposed gravel on edge of road. One plant seen Preserved_Specimen flowers pale pink. Faccenda, K. 3119 Lanai BISH 2023-06-19
24 Boerhavia acutifolia top of Makapuu Head roadside Preserved_Specimen stamens usually 2 Webster, G.L. 1340 Oahu BISH 1948-03-14
25 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head crater dry slopes Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1445 Oahu BISH 1931-01-22
26 Boerhavia acutifolia Waialua, Haleiwa Point flat coral rock and thin sand in full sun Preserved_Specimen prostrate; leaves white beneath; flowers white Fosberg, F.R. 27127 Oahu BISH 1946-10-20
27 Boerhavia acutifolia Waimea District. Growing on North facing inner crescent of Lehua Islet, on a shelf just below the summit. Coastal Dry Mixed Community, full sun, occurring in thin rocky soils on horizontal ledges Verbesina enseloides, Chenopodium murale, Calotropis procera, Panicum torridum, Boerhavia coccinea, Jacquemontia sandwicensis, Cenchris ciliaris, Sicyos maximowiczil Preserved_Specimen Large mat, approximately .75 m across, prostrate on shelf of North facing inner crater. Flowers light pink, small. Plant appears vigorous with a flush of new soft leaves, lanceolate with acute tips. Williams, A.M. 506 Niihau BISH 2018-02-07
28 Boerhavia acutifolia Kaunauhane District, near Kamanamana Pt. near sea level Sandy area near sea level. Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 590 Maui BISH 1983-11-20
29 Boerhavia acutifolia Koloa District, S coast of island just W of Nomilo Fishpond, near Makaokahai Point Scree slope of small cinder cone, lava cinders; coastal vegetation with Boerhavia, Lycium, Jacquemontia, and Atriplex semibaccata. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herbwith pinkish grn trailing stems arising from root crown; lvs fleshy, discolorous; flowers with grn calyx and pale pink limb; anthocarps green. Lorence, D.H. 8401 Kauai BISH 1999-03-21
30 Boerhavia acutifolia N Side os Islet. Middle slope of inner crescent. Open, windswept. Vegetation dominated by Pluchea sp. Lithified ash substrate. With Jacquemontia ovalifolia. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb forming a mat 2 m across. Pink flowers. Common across slopes of inner crescent. C. Trauernicht 597 Lehua Rock BISH 2008-10-28
31 Boerhavia acutifolia Kailua sand flat back of beach Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 9954 Oahu BISH 1929-10-27
32 Boerhavia acutifolia Green Beach, Kaulani, Kau District Basalt ledges. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 25381 Hawaii BISH 1954-12-21
33 Boerhavia acutifolia N Kona Cliff, talus Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
34 Boerhavia acutifolia Kona, N of Kailua Village On sand dunes near ocean. Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. 3 Hawaii BISH 1957-06-18
35 Boerhavia acutifolia [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; North-West Hawaiian Islands; Laysan; Hawaii; Honolulu Widespread in sandy soil near Casuarina tree. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb, height .1 m. Conant, S. 177 Laysan Island BISH 1983-07-25
36 Boerhavia acutifolia Limestone Point Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 410 Lanai BISH 1929-04-24
37 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head crater Preserved_Specimen Shrub, prostrate; flowers pink. Christophersen, E. 1325 Oahu BISH 1930-05-11
38 Boerhavia acutifolia Ca. 200 yds, east of the light house at Barber's Point. Arid, sandy region behind beach. Assoc. w/ Pluchea indica, P. odorata, Batis, Lycium, Sesuvium, Spergularia, sporobolus virg. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 504 Oahu BISH 1967-05-21
39 Boerhavia acutifolia top of bluffs above Haunauma Bay Preserved_Specimen leaves succulent Hutchison, P.C. 2847 Oahu BISH 1967-01-17
40 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head Crater, 21.3° N 157.8° W Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 611216016 Oahu BISH 1961-12-16
41 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head Crater Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1445 Oahu BISH 1931-01-22
42 Boerhavia acutifolia Kalaupapa; coast, E of lighthouse Preserved_Specimen relatively robust perennial herb Wysong, M.L. 462 Molokai BISH 2004-11-18
43 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head crater Preserved_Specimen Small ground cover. Lennstrom, H. 1994116 Oahu BISH 1994-06-26
44 Boerhavia acutifolia USDA Plant Materials Center; grass and legume groundcover trial; initial testing field 8A; row 5; plot 7; HA-4841; sprigs collected from Moomomi beach dunes; Molokai Preserved_Specimen Low spreading, moderately open, vine 4 tall; stem light pubescent, succulent; lvs shiny, wrinkled, curled, medium green above, gray-green below; flrs pale lavender in small clusters. Abundant flower production. Evans, M. 103 Molokai BISH 1990-07-12
45 Boerhavia acutifolia Makua Valley arid talus at coast Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 24091 Oahu BISH 1956-06-17
46 Boerhavia acutifolia just N of Poolenalena lava flows near coast Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2022 Maui BISH 1984-03-14
47 Boerhavia acutifolia Kalaupapa National Historic Park. Airport. Ocean side of airport runway near windsock Preserved_Specimen slender prostrate herb Wysong, M.L. 591 Molokai BISH 2005-01-27
48 Boerhavia acutifolia Below Kaone Preserved_Specimen Procumbent herb: 14 long in all directions. Fagerlund, G.O. 653 Hawaii BISH 1943-06-16
49 Boerhavia acutifolia 1 mi W of Trig. Station, Pohakuloa Preserved_Specimen Pekelo Jr., N. 45 Molokai BISH 1961-12-06
50 Boerhavia acutifolia Na Laau, Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 10 Oahu BISH 1953-03-13
51 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head crater Preserved_Specimen prostrate; flowers pink Christophersen, E. 1325 Oahu BISH 1930-05-11
52 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head, N and NW rims Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 3224 Oahu BISH 1960-03-05
53 Boerhavia acutifolia SW, Palaoa Point Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1353 Lanai BISH 1982-04-04
54 Boerhavia acutifolia Limestone Point Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 101 Lanai BISH 1913-12-13
55 Boerhavia acutifolia West Maui, near Papalaua, Lahaina side of Pali Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1366 Maui BISH 1982-04-22
56 Boerhavia acutifolia Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 103 Lanai BISH
57 Boerhavia acutifolia S Kona, kapua Bay and surrounding aeas, in the ahupuaa of Kapua Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 778 Hawaii BISH 1977-07-01
58 Boerhavia acutifolia East Maui, Makawao District, Kaunauhane AHU, along jeep road Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 587 Maui BISH 1983-11-20
59 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head Beach Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. 2020 Oahu BISH 1895-03-28
60 Boerhavia acutifolia Poopoo Islet, off S coast Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1359 Lanai BISH 1982-04-05
61 Boerhavia acutifolia Paomai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 92 Lanai BISH 1913-09-14
62 Boerhavia acutifolia Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1908-09-17
63 Boerhavia acutifolia Hoonoua Pond Area, on Jeep Rd, kamilo, Kau Preserved_Specimen Meinecke, W.H. Hawaii BISH 1969-12-12
64 Boerhavia acutifolia Mokulua islets, off Lanikai Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1936-06-14
65 Boerhavia acutifolia Maunalei Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1915-12-15
66 Boerhavia acutifolia SW corner Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Molokai BISH 1909-01-01
67 Boerhavia acutifolia Maunalua Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.H. Oahu BISH 1933-03-25
68 Boerhavia acutifolia Molokai Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Molokai BISH 1909-01-01
69 Boerhavia acutifolia Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1908-09-17
70 Boerhavia acutifolia Popoia Islet, near Kailua Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Oahu BISH 1915-11-01
71 Boerhavia acutifolia Molokini Islet Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH 1913-02-10
72 Boerhavia acutifolia Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Oahu BISH 1910-03-21
73 Boerhavia acutifolia unknown Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 111 BISH 1864-01-01
74 Boerhavia acutifolia Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH
75 Boerhavia acutifolia Diamond Head road Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 64 Oahu BISH 1919-11-11
76 Boerhavia acutifolia Kiei islet, along W coast Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1338 Lanai BISH 1982-04-03
77 Boerhavia acutifolia Roadside along Diamond Head Road. Base of diamond head Dry, loose rocks Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 1774 Oahu BISH 2021-05-08
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