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Brighamia rockii

H.St.John (1969)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Campanulaceae Genus: Brighamia

‘ālula [alula], ālula, hāhā [haha], pua ‘ala [pua ala]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Unbranched caudiciform succulents.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, arranged in a dense apical rosette. Blades 6–22 cm long, 5–15 cm wide. Apex obtuse to rounded. Base cuneate. Surfaces glabrous; blades leathery. Margins entire to weakly and distantly toothed in the apical ½. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in suberect or spreading axillary, bracteolate racemes. peduncles (including rachis) 3.5–7.5 cm long; pedicels 0.6–1.2 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect) or rarely unisexual, resupinate, protandrous, fragrant, 3–8. Hypanthium 9–12 mm long, 5–8 mm wide. Calyx synsepalous; tube 10–ribbed, adnate to the ovary, forming a hypanthium; lobes 5, free, valvate, shorter than the tube. Calyx lobes oblong to elliptic, 2.5–8 mm long. Corolla salverform, white; tube 8–13 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide; lobes 5, elliptic, margins finely erose, 1.7–3.7 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide. Stamens 5, syngenesious, included within the corolla tube, adnate to the corolla tube below the middle; anthers glabrous, dithecal, opening by introrse longitudinal slits, the three dorsal ones longer than the two ventral ones, all with apical tufts of white hairs. Pollen tricolporate, prolate, ellipsoidal. Ovary inferior, 2-locular; ovule placentation axile; style slender, exserted; stigma 2-lobed, appressed and nonreceptive as the style grows through the anther tube, pushing out the pollen, after which the stigmas spread apart and become receptive.

Fruit: Capsules 13–20 mm long; 7–10 mm wide; 3–4 mm thick; ellipsoid; compressed; at first fleshy; eventually drying; each locule dehiscent by two lateral longitudinal slits. Seeds numerous; small; pale; ovoid to ellipsoid; 1.1–1.2 mm long; smooth with a short to spatulate dicotyledonous embryo embedded in oily endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 14*.

Habitat: Basaltic cliffs near the ocean.

Elevation Range: Up to 470 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • Cultivated plants may begin to flower as early as their first year, but usually not for two or three years. Hand pollination should increase seed production since the native pollinator is presumed to be extinct. To hand pollinate Brighamia, use a small paint brush to transfer the pollen. When the flowers are a couple of days old, the pollen will begin being shed. Use the paint brush to pick up pollen that has fallen onto the flower tube and apply the pollen to the stigma of another flower. The stigma is ready to receive the pollen when it appears shiny and sticky. Koob states that if pollination is successful, the base of the flower will start to swell within a couple of days. The fruit of Brighamia rockii is a green capsule about 1/2 inch long which ripens six to eight weeks after pollination. When mature, the capsule splits open releasing many small, smooth seeds. Hannon states that the capsules may still be green when the open or they may have turned pale yellow or light cream in color. Some seeds may remain stuck to the sides of the capsule. The capsules can be harvested just as they start to crack open. Place the capsules in a paper bag or envelope until the seeds fall out of the open capsule. Most sources state that Brighamia seeds require light to germinate and to sprinkle the seeds on the surface of moist, fine textured medium that drains well such as fine perlite or commercial peat/perlite potting mix. Hannon suggests a light covering of fine potting medium. Use of a mist system is suggested by NTBG. Koob indicates that the seeds will begin germinating in a couple of weeks and that most seeds will sprout at the same time. Hannon reports sporadic germination beginning in two weeks. NTBG (Ragone 1993) reports that while 85% of Brighamia rockii germinated in 6 weeks, additional seeds germinated for up to 4 months with a final germination rate of 97%. Seed can be sown fresh or can be stored. Koob states that they can be kept in a refrigerator for up to 2 or 3 years. Hannon, however, writes that viability declines rapidly after 10 to 12 months. NTBG (Ragone 1993) reports that the seeds were no longer viable after storage at ambient temperature (80 degrees F) and relative humidity (25%) for 17 months. (Hannon 2002; Koob 2000; NTBG 1992; Ragone 1993; Wagner 1999)
  • Johnson reports success micropropagating Brighamia insignis. Seeds are germinated on standard agar growth media or half-strength Murashige and Skoog media. The resulting seedlings are dissected and small pieces grown on Murashige and Skoog media to which NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) has been added. No additional details are provided. (Johnson 1986) [Data from Herring, E. C., & Criley, R. A. (2003). The Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Web Site: Developing a Webbased Information Resource. HortTechnology, 13(3), 545-548. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/]

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
Molokai Endemic
Lana'i Endemic
Maui Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 62: 196 (1969)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:423 (Mo, L? [based on Rock sighting in 1910 at Maunalei Valley of inaccessible plant], M? [based on Remy 1850s spm.]); Staples & Herbst 2005:217 (KEY, DESCR); Wagner et al. 1990/PEPP 2025 (L†, 1909); Wagner et al. 1990/Remy 309 P (M†, 1855)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen A. Flowering plant, the base concealed by excised flowering crown of another plant. B. Longitudinal and cross sections of a stem, the older part with scalariform pith. Mann, H. Molokai BISH 1864-01-01
2 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen 6 plants seen, flowers. Perlman, S. Molokai BISH 1980-08-06
3 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 519 Molokai BISH 1912-09-01
4 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Molokai BISH 1864-01-01
5 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8817 Molokai BISH 1910-04-01
6 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8817 Molokai BISH 1910-04-01
7 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 574 Molokai BISH 1910-06-01
8 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Perlman, S. Molokai BISH 1980-08-06
9 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Molokai BISH 1864-01-01
10 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Brigham, W.T. Molokai BISH 1864-01-01
11 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On cliffs with native mixed coastal mesic cliff plants. With: Artemisia, Bidens, Canthium, Schiedea globosa, Diospyros, Kalanchoe pinnata, Lysimachia. Preserved_Specimen Plants 3-7 feet in height with flowers. About 25-50 plants in area, some are seedlings, Perlman, S. 6222 Molokai BISH 1987-07-31
12 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Perlman, S. Molokai BISH 1980-08-06
13 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Molokai BISH 1864-01-01
14 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Molokai BISH
15 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Molokai BISH
16 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. Molokai BISH 1864-01-01
17 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Perlman, S. Molokai BISH 1980-08-06
18 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Molokai BISH
19 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Molokai BISH
20 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 519 Molokai BISH 1912-09-01
21 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 519 Molokai BISH 1912-09-01
22 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Caudiciform succulent herb, stem ca. 60 cm long, 5 cm diam basally, with 2 branches. Leaves in terminal rosette, light green, fleshy, sap white. Inflorescences axillary, 3(-12)-flowered; hypanthium + calyx green, corolla tube green basally, yellow white distally, lobes white, sweetly fragrant (2pm). Lorence, D.H. 10710 Kauai BISH 2017-09-08
23 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Rock crevices Preserved_Specimen Flowers white Fosberg, F.R. 9643 Molokai BISH 1933-04-04
24 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In Diospyros - Metrosideros lowland w/Athyrium sandwichianum, Rauvolfia, Antidesma, Canthium, Myrsine, Artemisia, Bidens, Kalanchoe pinnata, also mixed coastal mesic cliff. Preserved_Specimen 3 - 7 ft ht with flowers, 25 plants and seedlings. Perlman, S. 6222 Molokai BISH 1987-07-31
25 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen rosette of leaves from thick fleshy stem less than 1 m tall, few lateral branches Wysong, M.L. 862 Molokai BISH 2006-01-25
26 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Base of cliff near sea level Preserved_Specimen Herb with white flowers Anderson, S.J. 620 Molokai BISH 1983-08-26
27 Brighamia rockii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Nevin, N.B. 8817 Molokai BISH 1911-08-01
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