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Pentas lanceolata

(Forssk.) Deflers (1889)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Gentianales Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Pentas

pentas

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Voy. Yemen: 142 (1889)

Other References

Nagata 1995:12 (NEWNAT/H); Starr et al. 2002:24 (EM); Staples & Herbst 2005:485 (KEY), 495 (DESCR); Faccenda 2024b:130 (O); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:208 (K)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Pentas lanceolata South Kona District: Captain Cook, Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Cult. flowering shrub in back yard of house. Candy tuft. Preserved_Specimen Shrubby plant about 4' tall; flws pinkish. Swanson, I. 639 Hawaii BISH 1990-05-19
2 Pentas lanceolata Cult. on the grounds of the Bishop Museum, Honolulu Potted plant grown in the shade of the big banyan tree at the back of the campus, overhanging H1 freeway. Preserved_Specimen Woody plant with terminal umbellate clusters of white flws (also seen in red, pink, and bicolored forms.) Evans, M. 4 Oahu BISH 1990-06-20
3 Pentas lanceolata Hamakua distr. Ca mile marker 33 along Hwy. 19, beside bridge over Mohuna Stream. Disturbed vegetation at roadside; rooted in lava bank in dryish, crumbly stone. Preserved_Specimen Herb to 30 cm tall with lavender or white flowers (both color forms intermingled at this site); roots of lavender form are deep orange. Staples, G.W. 1248 Hawaii BISH 2007-02-06
4 Pentas lanceolata East Maui, Makawao, 3572 Baldwin Ave Sparingly naturalized: comes up in unmaintained areas of yard and beginning to appear in neighborhood. Preserved_Specimen Shrub ca 2 m tall; flowers purple-pink. Starr, F. 1161 Maui BISH 2000-01-16
5 Pentas lanceolata East Maui, Makawao District, Haiku, on side of rd near gulch Coming up on steep bank. Preserved_Specimen Erect shrub; flowers white. Starr, F. 11292 Maui BISH 2000-11-29
6 Pentas lanceolata Booth Rd., where it crosses over the Pauoa Stream Wet, partly shaded area. Growing from masonry wall Preserved_Specimen Common in stream Faccenda, K. 1820 Oahu BISH 2021-05-15
7 Pentas lanceolata W Maui, Lahaina District, W of Honokahua Valley In weedy abandoned golf course. Preserved_Specimen Small shrubs; flowers white. Oppenheimer, H.L. 10816 Maui BISH 2008-01-18
8 Pentas lanceolata East Maui, Makawao District, Haiiku, Lihau Place, (Kuiaha) Growing on side of road. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 9811103 Maui BISH 1998-11-10
9 Pentas lanceolata Cult. in garden of Geoffrey Michels, Wailaau Rd., Koloa Preserved_Specimen Low (25 cm) shrubs kept compact by vigorous pruning. Stem pale green to dull purple. Leaf: petiole, veins below and midvein above pale green; blade below pale to medium green, blade above medium to dark green, slightly glossy, with veins deeply impre Hume, L. 462 Kauai BISH 1990-02-07
10 Pentas lanceolata South Hilo distr., Hwy. 19 about 13 miles outside Hilo Along roadside on steep wet rock walls where road cuts through hillside. Preserved_Specimen Vigorous herb 30-60 cm tall from tough wiry rootstock. All flowers with lavender corollas. Immature fruits on several plants. Staples, G.W. 1231 Hawaii BISH 2006-04-24
11 Pentas lanceolata Hamakua distr. Ca mile marker 33 along Hwy. 19, beside bridge over Mohuna Stream. Disturbed vegetation at roadside; rooted in lava bank in dryish, crumbly stone. Preserved_Specimen Herb to 30 cm tall with lavender or white flowers (both color forms intermingled at this site); roots of lavender form are deep orange. Staples, G.W. 1248 Hawaii BISH 2007-02-06
12 Pentas lanceolata Round Top Road, 200 m mauka of Makiki St. Shady roadside, relatively dry Preserved_Specimen Probably persisting from planting, but spreading, many plants seen Faccenda, K. 2382 Oahu BISH 2022-05-27
13 Pentas lanceolata Cult. in garden of Geoffrey Michels, Wailaau Rd., Koloa Preserved_Specimen Loosely branched shrubs to ca. 1 m tall. Stem pale green with slight violet wash. Leaf: petiole, veins below and midvein above pale green; blade below medium green, slightly glossy; blade above pale (youngest) to dark green (mature), slightly glossy, Hume, L. 463 Kauai BISH 1990-02-07
14 Pentas lanceolata Kalaheo: Garden of Kukuiolono Golf Course Preserved_Specimen Compact shrubby plants ca. 1 m tall. Stems pale green to dark violet, glossy, with pale hairs. Leaf: petiole pale green, blade above medium to dark green with deeply impressed veins, glossy, with pale midrib, below much paler, glossy. Flws 2.5 x 2 cm Hume, L. 471 Kauai BISH 1990-02-16
15 Pentas lanceolata Rangers cottage Preserved_Specimen Flws: lavender. Fagerlund, G.O. 95 Kauai BISH 1942-09-22
16 Pentas lanceolata Cult. plants grown in the garden at 3115 Kaloaluiki Place, in the Manoa Valley, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Dwarf cultivar growing to only 18' height; flws 2-toned, the petal margins pink, the centers darker rose. Kadowaki, A. 607 Oahu BISH 1990-05-12
17 Pentas lanceolata Cult. in garden; Lihue Preserved_Specimen Linford, M.B. Kauai BISH 1935-01-28
18 Pentas lanceolata Lihue Dist. Puhi Camp just west of Kauai Community College. Cult. plants from homesites as camp was razed Preserved_Specimen Herb of 2'. Corolla dark pink. Flynn, T.W. 1994 Kauai BISH 1986-12-05
19 Pentas lanceolata Kalaheo: Garden of Kukuiolono Golf Course Preserved_Specimen Shrubby plants ca.1m tall. Stems pale green to dark violet, glossy, with pale hairs. Leaf: petiole pale green, blade above medium to dark green, glossy, with pale midrib, below much paler, glossy. Inflor: in compact rounded heads; flws: 2.5 x 2 cm; s Hume, L. 470 Kauai BISH 1990-02-16
20 Pentas lanceolata Cult. in garden of Geoffrey Michels, Wailaau Rd., Koloa Preserved_Specimen Shrubs kept compact to ca. 0.5 m by vigorous pruning. Stem pale green, on some parts thick with white hair. Leaf: petiole and midrib / veins below very pale green, the blade below pale green and slightly glossy; blade above slightly glossy, medium to Hume, L. 461 Kauai BISH 1990-02-07
21 Pentas lanceolata Cult. in garden of Geoffrey Michels, Wailaau Rd., Koloa Preserved_Specimen Loosely branched shrubs to ca. 1 m tall. Stem pale green to purplish. Leaf: petiole, veins below and mid vein above pale green; blade below medium green, slightly glossy; blade above pale (youngest) to dark green (mature), slightly glossy, with veins Hume, L. 464 Kauai BISH 1990-02-07
22 Pentas lanceolata Lihue Dist. Puhi Camp just west of Kauai Community College. Cult. plants from homesites as camp was razed Preserved_Specimen Herb of 2'. Corolla dark pink. Flynn, T.W. 1993 Kauai BISH 1986-12-05
23 Pentas lanceolata Honolulu, lower Tantalus, 1519 Onele Pl. Preserved_Specimen to 1 m subshrub; flower color variable Ray, G. 10 Oahu BISH 1997-06-01
24 Pentas lanceolata Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus, St. John Hall Preserved_Specimen Subshrub 1.8m tall in partial shade. Flws: rose pink; not fragrant (at mid morning). Lau, J. 1120 Oahu BISH 1985-06-20
25 Pentas lanceolata Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way, in bed by house Preserved_Specimen Plant about 3 and a half ft. high; flws: pinkish lavender. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1941-11-23
26 Pentas lanceolata Betty Suenaga's yard. 2357 B Palolo Av Preserved_Specimen Suenaga, B. Oahu BISH 1985-07-08
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