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Sabdariffa furcellata

(Lam.) M.M.Hanes & R.L.Barrett (2025)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Sabdariffa

‘akiahala, ‘akiahala akiahala], ‘akiohala [akiohala], hau hele, hau hele wai, Hawaiian pink hibiscus

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Coarse perennial herbs or subshrubs 1–2.5 m tall.

Stems: Young branches, petioles, and pedicels densely stellate pubescent and often (in all hawaiian collections) also with setose, pustulate–based, simple hairs 0.5–2 mm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate or sometimes orbicular in outline, 5–15 cm long and wide, unlobed or shallowly and angulately to deeply 3–lobed or 5(7)–lobed. Base cordate. Surfaces stellate tomentose and sometimes setose on veins. Margins glandular serrate to glandular dentate. Midvein on lower surface with a basal gland. Petiolate. Stipules filiform 4–8 mm long, caducous, leaving an elliptic scar.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in the upper leaf axils or in racemes, pedicels stout, 1-2 cm long not articulate but deciduous at point of insertion; involucral bracts usually 10-14, linear, 10-15 mm long, apex bifid. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx 1.8–2.5 cm long, up to 4 cm long in fruit, stellate pubescent and hirsute with simple hairs, especially on the 10 prominent veins, median vein of each one with an elongate gland above the middle. Corolla actinomorphic to moderately zygomorphic, rotate to campanulate or tubular, lower surface usually densely pubescent, corolla of 5 petals, obovate, not opening widely, pale magenta to rose, more deeply colored at base, 5–9 cm long, distinct from each other but adnate at base to staminal column, convolute in bud. Stamens monadelphous, forming a staminal column, included, maroon; antheriferous from near base; anthers monothecal. Pollen globose, echinate. Ovary superior, 5-celled or rarely appearing 10-celled by a vertical partition, the carpels borne in a single whorl or rarely seemingly superposed whorls, placentation axile; ovules 3 or more per cell; staminal column included, maroon, antheriferous from near base; style exceeding the staminal column, 5-branched, each branch terminated by an expanded stigma.

Fruit: Loculicidally dehiscent capsules; ovoid–apiculate; enclosed by the calyx; 2–2.5 cm long; thin–walled; hirsute; exocarp and endocarp sometimes separating at maturity. Seeds angular-reniform or rounded-reniform; 2.4–2.8 mm long; glabrous or papillate.

Ploidy: 2n = 72

Habitat: Occurring primarily in wet; disturbed areas. However; Sinclair (1885) states that it was once common "in nearly all valleys and sheltered places" on both windward and leeward sides of the islands.

Elevation Range: 90–240 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous

Island Status

Kaua'i Indigenous
O'ahu Indigenous
Maui Indigenous
Hawai'i Indigenous

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Austral. Syst. Bot. 38-SB24013: 47 (2025)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:885 (K, O, EM, H [as Hibiscus furcellatus]); Wilson 1993:279 (KEY, DESCR); Oppenheimer & Pezzillo 2024:61 (WM); Barrett et al. 2025:47 (COMBNOV, Syn. H. furcellatus = S. furcellata, KEY)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Sabdariffa furcellata Hanalei Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 128 Kauai BISH 1909-08-04
2 Sabdariffa furcellata Rainbow Falls Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 525 Hawaii BISH 1915-05-16
3 Sabdariffa furcellata specific locality not given. Preserved_Specimen van Royen, P. 38 Oahu BISH 1969-06-01
4 Sabdariffa furcellata Wailua Falls Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 498 Kauai BISH 1916-10-05
5 Sabdariffa furcellata Waiahole Valley Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. Oahu BISH 1938-11-04
6 Sabdariffa furcellata Kawailoa Swamp Preserved_Specimen Nitta, K. 8955 Oahu BISH 1930-05-02
7 Sabdariffa furcellata Waiahole Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1954-06-01
8 Sabdariffa furcellata Palikea Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1954-06-11
9 Sabdariffa furcellata [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A. Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 598 BISH 1864-01-01
10 Sabdariffa furcellata unknown Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 3309 BISH 1929-03-01
11 Sabdariffa furcellata unknown Preserved_Specimen (Not on sheet) 205 BISH
12 Sabdariffa furcellata Nailiihaele Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 1035 Maui BISH 1966-03-28
13 Sabdariffa furcellata Onekahakaha Beach Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, V.O. 64 Hawaii BISH 1936-08-15
14 Sabdariffa furcellata Waiakea, behind Leleiwi Pt. dry, rocky scrub Preserved_Specimen small shrub; pink flower Herbst, D.R. 5508 Hawaii BISH 1975-10-20
15 Sabdariffa furcellata Boundary of Lihue and Kawaihau District; in drainage below The Blue Hole; Headwaters of N Fork of Wailua River, just N of Mt Kawaikini, and SE of Mt Waialeale Deep, narrow valley surrounded by vertical cliffs laced with waterfalls; Low undisturbed wet forest of small, stunted trees and shrubs, (Metrosiedros, Bobea, Perrottetia, etc.) with ground cover of Pteridophytes, Gunnera, Cyrtandra, and Cyanea, growing over saturated, rocky ground. Preserved_Specimen Abundant 2-3 m tall trees; in flower and fruit; corolla pink. Wood, K.R. 387 Kauai BISH 1990-07-02
16 Sabdariffa furcellata end of Ahuimanu Road, Kahaluu Valley sunny, wet meadow Preserved_Specimen 4-8' tree, little branched Degener, O. 24982 Oahu BISH 1958-11-24
17 Sabdariffa furcellata Terminal portion of 1881-1 lava flow near Hilo Lava flow Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 545 Hawaii BISH 1915-05-17
18 Sabdariffa furcellata Haleakala, lower ditch trail gulch Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. 793 Maui BISH 1922-10-14
19 Sabdariffa furcellata Hilo, Kilauea and Kawili Streets, in front of State Forestry offices Planted in front of offices. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 6' tall, flowers light pink with a dark pink eye, 12 bracts. Davis, J. 728 Hawaii BISH 1982-04-28
20 Sabdariffa furcellata Terminal portion of 1881-1 lava flow near Hilo Lava flow Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 545 Hawaii BISH 1915-05-17
21 Sabdariffa furcellata Between Olaa and Hilo wet lava flow, Panaewa woods Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8958 Hawaii BISH 1926-06-25
22 Sabdariffa furcellata Hilo, a vacant lot in Uluwai street A grassy vacant lot. Growing in dense California grass. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 5 ft. tall. Flowers pink. Davis, J. 522 Hawaii BISH 1981-06-15
23 Sabdariffa furcellata Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, Kauai, Hawaii Growing on a higher bank towards the back of the refuge, on a steep incline. Preserved_Specimen Large shrub, covered with stiff, irritating hairs. Pink to purple flowers, capsule-like fruit. Crago, L.M. 2005154 Kauai BISH 2005-08-02
24 Sabdariffa furcellata lower Kipapa Gulch dry forest Preserved_Specimen flower pink, red center Fosberg, F.R. 9543 Oahu BISH 1933-06-12
25 Sabdariffa furcellata Kupau swampy pasture near road Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 22105 Maui BISH 1952-03-23
26 Sabdariffa furcellata East Maui, Hana District, Hana Forest Reserve, Hana Ranch lands, slopes SW of Keakaamanu Open Dicranopteris linearis-covered slope with Lantana camara, Nephrolepis multiflora, Ardisia elliptica, Cibotium glaucum. Preserved_Specimen Uncommon large, stiff brown-hairy shrub with rose-purplish flowers. Imada, C. 200298 Maui BISH 2002-12-03
27 Sabdariffa furcellata Waimalu, Ewa Psidium grove Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7331 Oahu BISH 1934-09-09
28 Sabdariffa furcellata Waimalo Gulch roadside Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 3309 Oahu BISH 1929-03-10
29 Sabdariffa furcellata 1.4 mi N of Hanahanapuni cone Paspalum, Digitaria Preserved_Specimen hirsute shrub; flowers axillary; corolla lavender dark pink Ishikawa, S. 294 Kauai BISH 1973-08-21
30 Sabdariffa furcellata Kailua, Kawainui Swamp drier parts Preserved_Specimen small trees; flower magenta pink, scarcely open at noon, petals convolute St.John, H. 10524 Oahu BISH 1930-05-04
31 Sabdariffa furcellata Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook, Hawaii Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Preserved_Specimen Spreading tree like shrub, up to 10 feet, smooth gray bark Rozett, J.R. 24 Hawaii BISH 1981-11-10
32 Sabdariffa furcellata Woodlawn, upper Manoa Valley grassy depression Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 8954 Oahu BISH 1929-05-26
33 Sabdariffa furcellata Punaluu sunny marsh Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8956 Oahu BISH 1931-08-11
34 Sabdariffa furcellata Waimalu, upper end, irrigation tunnel sunny, wet meadow Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10026 Oahu BISH 1935-11-03
35 Sabdariffa furcellata Kahaluu Valley, end of Aliumanu Road sunny, wet meadow Preserved_Specimen 4-8' strict shrub or tree; little branches, quick growing, short lived Degener, O. 24982 Oahu BISH 1958-11-24
36 Sabdariffa furcellata East Maui, Oopuola ditch trail, wet open shrubby Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8953 Maui BISH 1927-07-07
37 Sabdariffa furcellata West Maui, Lahaina District, Olowalu, Olowalu Valley, north side of stream. Approximately 100 plants, all volunteered after area was cleared for restoration Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 82202 Maui BISH 2022-08-26
38 Sabdariffa furcellata Honomanu, above Hana Hwy. On moist, steep bank. Preserved_Specimen Shrub with few, strongly ascending branches; yellowish green foliage; pink-purple flowers with maroon center. Herbst, D.R. 849 Maui BISH 1968-01-03
39 Sabdariffa furcellata Kipapa Gulch, Waipio, stream bed Preserved_Specimen 4' shrub Hosaka, E.Y. 1054 Oahu BISH 1933-05-28
40 Sabdariffa furcellata Honolulu, 1940 Manoa Rd Preserved_Specimen 2 m shrub, single major stem, few short side branches; flower mauve to dark pink, blood red center Lau, J. 2013 Oahu BISH 1986-02-16
41 Sabdariffa furcellata Honolulu, Woodlawn roadside Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1933-04-02
42 Sabdariffa furcellata Back of Wailua, off road to Blue hole, near Wailua river north fork Preserved_Specimen About 10 shrubs seen with flowers and fruit Perlman, S. 22783 Kauai BISH 2012-02-08
43 Sabdariffa furcellata Between Olaa and Hilo wet lava flow, Panaewa woods Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8959 Hawaii BISH 1926-06-25
44 Sabdariffa furcellata Makiki Valley, along stream Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8960 Oahu BISH 1922-11-05
45 Sabdariffa furcellata Between Olaa and Hilo wet lava flow, Panaewa woods Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8959 Hawaii BISH 1926-06-25
46 Sabdariffa furcellata Kipapa Gulch, Waipio, stream bed Preserved_Specimen 4' shrub Hosaka, E.Y. 1054 Oahu BISH 1933-05-28
47 Sabdariffa furcellata Hilo, near dock in old lava flow Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8957 Hawaii BISH 1926-07-19
48 Sabdariffa furcellata Outskirts of Hilo In rich sunny marsh near bay Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. Hawaii BISH 1922-12-12
49 Sabdariffa furcellata Hawaiian Paradise Park, Puna on pahoehoe Preserved_Specimen Hawaii BISH 1970-01-01
50 Sabdariffa furcellata East Maui, Hana Hwy near Kalaloa Pt. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1990 Maui BISH 1971-07-11
51 Sabdariffa furcellata Manoa Preserved_Specimen mallow purple (Not on sheet) Oahu BISH 1956-12-31
52 Sabdariffa furcellata Kailua, Kawainui Swamp Preserved_Specimen 10' shrub, rooted in water; flower mallow purple 205 Oahu BISH 1956-12-31
53 Sabdariffa furcellata specific locality not given. Preserved_Specimen van Royen, P. 38 Oahu BISH 1969-06-01
54 Sabdariffa furcellata Kawainui Swamp, Kaneohe Preserved_Specimen Nitta, K. 104 Oahu BISH 1930-05-02
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