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Sisyrinchium acre

H.Mann (1867)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Iridaceae Genus: Sisyrinchium

mau‘u hō‘ula ‘ili [mauu houla ili], mau‘u lā‘ili [mauu laili]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Plants 15–30 cm tall.

Stems: Flowering stems usually broadly winged, comprising a single long internode without cauline leaves.

Roots: Unbranched, roots fibrous or somewhat thickened but slender.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Leaves basal. Leaves ½ as long to about as long as flowering stems, (2–)3–4 mm wide. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire. Veins parallel. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers stellate, several, spathes 18–28 mm long, outer spathe longer than inner one, sometimes with a terminal bract subtending spathes. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Tepals yellow, ca. 6–10 mm long, subequal, spreading horizontally. Stamens 3; filaments 2–3 mm long, distinct at least above (not seen below); anthers 2–3 mm long. Ovary inferior, obovoid, ca. 1.5 mm long, 3-carpellate, 3-celled; ovule placentation axile; style apparently divided near apex of filament tube, the branches ca. 3 mm long, slender, extending between anthers.

Fruit: Capsules nodding; pyriform; 5–8 mm long; ca. 5 mm in diameter. Seeds blackish; globose; ca. 0.8 mm in diameter; slightly flattened on the side with a shallow to deep; circular pit ca. ½ the diameter of the seed; foveolate.

Ploidy: 2n = 34*

Habitat: Occurring in open; dry to boggy areas and subalpine shrubland.

Elevation Range: 1,550–2,950 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Leaves and juice used to give a blue stain to tattoos; these stains could be used to prove one had been to the area near Kilauea where it grows (Pukui & Elbert 1986:243).

  • The leaves are mashed & mixed with salt, kōkea (white sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum), and ‘auko‘i root bark (Senna occidentails) used to clean the skin diseases and to draw out the liquid of the splotchy skin disease, pu‘upu‘u hakuma. The treatment is combined with the liquid of ‘aeia (Nothocestrum spp.) and ‘ahakea (Bobea spp.) and fish, lu‘au, kukui (Aleurites moluccana), pōpolo (Solanum americanum), poi, as well as ko‘oko‘olau tea and brackish water (Chun 1994:220).

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 7: 206 (1867)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1446 (EM, H)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Sisyrinchium acre N Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 68 Maui BISH 1922-10-17
2 Sisyrinchium acre [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. BISH
3 Sisyrinchium acre Hualalai, above Honekau Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 166 Hawaii BISH 1911-06-15
4 Sisyrinchium acre E of Ukulele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 611 Maui BISH 1919-07-17
5 Sisyrinchium acre Preserved_Specimen BISH
6 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, upper slope Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 661 Maui BISH 1918-04-29
7 Sisyrinchium acre Halealoha Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 769 Hawaii BISH 1915-06-08
8 Sisyrinchium acre Hualalai, above Honekau Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 166 Hawaii BISH 1911-06-15
9 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5581 Maui BISH 1927-08-09
10 Sisyrinchium acre East Maui, Haleakala, Ukulele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 146 Maui BISH 1910-07-01
11 Sisyrinchium acre S Haleakala, Puu Oili Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2171 Maui BISH 1920-04-08
12 Sisyrinchium acre 1880-1 lava flow above kipuka Ahiu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 912 Hawaii BISH 1915-06-20
13 Sisyrinchium acre Parker Ranch, Kaluamakani crater Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3231 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-01
14 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Brigham, W.T. Maui BISH 1909-03-01
15 Sisyrinchium acre Loaloa Preserved_Specimen Usinger, R.L. 694 Hawaii BISH 1935-08-07
16 Sisyrinchium acre East Maui, Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Anderson, D. Maui BISH 1932-08-20
17 Sisyrinchium acre Kahuku Ranch, road to Nene Cabin bare loam in stream bed Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 26830 Hawaii BISH 1971-06-26
18 Sisyrinchium acre Boundary road between Kapapala Forest Reserve and Kapapala Ranch, Kau District Growing with Microlaena stipoides and native ferns in open `ohi`a - koa forest. Preserved_Specimen Herb about 1' tall. Flowers yellow. Cuddihy, L.W. 824 Hawaii BISH 1981-07-02
19 Sisyrinchium acre N Kona, head of Kaupulehu lava flow mossy slope Preserved_Specimen roots yellow, acrid to taste; flowers yellow Fosberg, F.R. 41685 Hawaii BISH 1961-03-22
20 Sisyrinchium acre Kau FR, Kahuku ranch aa lava; with Metrosideros, Styphelia, Lycopodium, Oreobolus, Deschampsia, Coprosma, Dubautia, Geranium, Vaccinium, Luzula, Gahnia, Plantago, Stereocaulon, Cladonia Preserved_Specimen flowers deep yellow Herbst, D.R. 5042 Hawaii BISH 1974-09-19
21 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, within crater grass Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5580 Maui BISH 1927-08-17
22 Sisyrinchium acre Kau District, Kilauea Forest, between Puu oo trail and Puu Kipu On pahoehoe. Plants grow in small patches in shallow soil on lava flow. Growing with scrub ohia, pukiawe, Vaccinium pahalae, Coprosma ernodeoides, Machaerina gahniiformis, Railliardia scabra, Deschampsia and other grasses. Preserved_Specimen Leaves bluish-green, flowers yellow (1 plant with flowers seen), seeds black. Davis, J. 363 Hawaii BISH 1980-09-04
23 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, Koolau Gap open aa lava Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 6 Maui BISH 1983-08-25
24 Sisyrinchium acre Mauka of Olinda bare clay Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5573 Maui BISH 1927-06-15
25 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, W of Paliku scrubby lava Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12589 Maui BISH 1939-08-07
26 Sisyrinchium acre Mauna Loa, trail to Puu Ulaula shade of Metrosideros Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 260 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-14
27 Sisyrinchium acre Kealakekua, Greenwell Ranch turf in paddock, with Acacia and Vaccinium reticulatum Preserved_Specimen flower yellow St.John, H. 23977 Hawaii BISH 1949-12-31
28 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, 0.25 mi NE of Puu Nolei dry cinders Preserved_Specimen tufted, flower yellow St.John, H. 21260 Maui BISH 1945-09-01
29 Sisyrinchium acre Humuula Sheep Station, Mauna Kea, N Hilo rocky Preserved_Specimen flower yellow, delicate Hosaka, E.Y. 2322 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-13
30 Sisyrinchium acre Kau District, Kilauea Forest, between Puu oo trail and Puu Kipu Plants grow in small patches in shallow soil on lava flow. Growing with scrub Metrosideros, Styphelia, Vaccinium pahalae, Coprosma ernodeoides, Machaerina gahniiformis, Railliardia scrub, Deschampsia and other grasses. Preserved_Specimen Leaves bluish-green, flowers yellow (1 plant seen with flowers), seeds black. Davis, J. 363 Hawaii BISH 1980-09-04
31 Sisyrinchium acre Saddle Rd. 29 mi from Hilo, Waiakea, 1855 lava flow kipuka, mossy ledge Preserved_Specimen flower yellow St.John, H. 22383 Hawaii BISH 1946-12-26
32 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, head of Koolau Gap rough lava Preserved_Specimen flower yellow Wilbur, R.L. 940 Maui BISH 1948-07-02
33 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, S slope, E of Kahua open scrub; Vaccinium Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21114 Maui BISH 1950-11-24
34 Sisyrinchium acre Kilauea-Mauna Loa Rd., Keauhou, Puna grass Preserved_Specimen tuft; flower yellow St.John, H. 18416 Hawaii BISH 1937-12-19
35 Sisyrinchium acre Hualalai, summit cinders; with Geranium cuneatum, Styphelia tameiameiae, Fragaria chiloensis, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia Preserved_Specimen tufted; flower light yellow Carlquist, S. 2097 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-30
36 Sisyrinchium acre Located on the Mauna Loa Strip Road about 10.3 miles toward summit from intersection with Kona-Hilo Highway. Plant was on right side of road. (plot 26a) Montane Deschampsia grassland community (mountain parkland formation) Preserved_Specimen Herb about 2 feet tall Newell, C.L. 25 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-06
37 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, Kaupo Gap eroded old lava flow Preserved_Specimen 12-16; flower yellow Olson, G.E. Maui BISH 1937-12-01
38 Sisyrinchium acre Puu Hualalai, Kaupulehu turfy opening Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11434 Hawaii BISH 1931-12-30
39 Sisyrinchium acre E of Humuula, below Kalaieha Puu on pahoehoe Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. 703 Hawaii BISH 1935-08-07
40 Sisyrinchium acre Located on the Mauna Loa Strip Road about 10.3 miles toward summit from intersection with Kona-Hilo Highway. Plant was on right side of road. (plot 26a) Montane Deschampsia grassland community (mountain parkland formation) Preserved_Specimen Herb about 1.5 feet tall Newell, C.L. 24 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-06
41 Sisyrinchium acre 29 Miles, Kilauea small bog Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5571 Hawaii BISH 1929-06-07
42 Sisyrinchium acre Parker Ranch, Kaluamakani crater Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3124 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-01
43 Sisyrinchium acre E of Ukulele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 787 Maui BISH 1919-07-16
44 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, Koolau Gap Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5582 Maui BISH 1927-08-11
45 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 460 Maui BISH 1918-04-24
46 Sisyrinchium acre Hualalai Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. 663 Hawaii BISH 1922-09-25
47 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, Kaeanae Gap Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1061 Maui BISH 1919-08-05
48 Sisyrinchium acre East Maui, Haleakala, Ukulele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 146 Maui BISH 1910-07-01
49 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5572 Maui BISH 1927-06-29
50 Sisyrinchium acre Haleakala, between observation and rest houses Preserved_Specimen Cranwell, L.M. 2822 Maui BISH 1938-08-05
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