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Odontonema cuspidatum

(Nees) Kuntze (1891)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Odontonema

fire spike, firespike, odontonema

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrub 2.4–3 m tall, ± glabrous.

Stems: Stems 4–angled.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes). Blades elliptic to oblong, 12.7–30.4 cm x 2.5–3.8 cm. Apex often curved. Surfaces glossy deep green; Blades usually with cystoliths. Margins entire and undulate. Sessile or nearly so. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers crowded in terminal Inflorescences; erect, stalked panicle; bracts inconspicuous. Bracts spatula–shaped, usually < 1 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx 5-lobed, lobes awl-shaped, equal. Corolla scarlet, tubular, ca 2.5 cm long. Fertile stamens 2, reaching mouth of tube, inserted on the corolla alternate with the lobes; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Sterile stamen 2 borne near base of corolla. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate; ovule placentation axile; style filiform, simple.

Fruit: Capsules with two cells; club–shaped; usually dehiscing explosively. Seeds 4; semicircular; ca 0.25 cm long; warty; on small hooked stalks (modified funiculus) that ejects the Seeds from the capsule; embryos usually large; endosperm absent.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Tolerant of a wide array of environmental conditions (except for salt exposure); fire–spike grows in cool; moist valleys as well as drier; sunny lowlands.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to Central American forests; cultivated as an ornamental in Hawai‘i for many years under the incorrect name of O. strictum. Although fruit has rarely been observed in Hawai‘i, fire-spike has been found in several seemingly wild locations and

Bibliography

Name Published In: Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 494 (1891)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:167 (K?, O?, H? [as O. strictum, non-cult. plants not appearing to set fruit, thus not truly nat.]); Lorence et al. 1995:20 (NEWNAT/K, DESCR, O. strictum misapplied = O. cuspidatum); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2002:2 (EM); Staples et al. 2002:4 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:81 (KEY), 88 (DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2007:9 (O)

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Staples, G., & Herbst, D. R. (2005). A Tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press.

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Odontonema cuspidatum East Maui, Hana District, SE of Hamoa to Waioka, along Hwy 31 at Kapia Stream Coastal pasture lands; Maka`alae, at edge of large Terminalia/Syzygium grove. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2577 Maui BISH 1987-10-27
2 Odontonema cuspidatum Keaukaha, off Nene St. 50' from Kalanianiole Hwy In small ravine; associated with Paederia, Malvaviscus, Allamanda and Spathodea. Preserved_Specimen Ishikawa, S. 208 Hawaii BISH 1973-01-12
3 Odontonema cuspidatum Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, near Puu oo road Collected in collapsed lava tube, growing with Metrosideros and Tropaeolum, about 30 feet from road. Surrounding area is Pennisetum (kikuyu) - Axonopus - Hypochoeris pasture on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 93 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-04
4 Odontonema cuspidatum North of radio station at Helemano Military Reservation (see map). Helemano Road, turn left onto dirt road and go through the Helemano gate; plant found at first stream crossing Rocky soil substrate. Flat gulch bottom with closed overstory 5-10 m height, dominated by Chrysophyllum oliviforme, with Falcataria moluccana, Aleurites moluccana; understory of Panicum maximum. Partial shade (5-50%). Mesic (50-75 inches/year). Preserved_Specimen Beachy, J. Oahu BISH 2003-08-19
5 Odontonema cuspidatum Kawaihau District, Wailua Homesteads, Nounou Trail Kuamoo entrance, just before the bridge and along the stream. Invaded riparian corridor W/ Megathyrsus maximus, Sphagnetiocola triloba, Ipomoea ochracea, Citharexylum caudatum, Persea americana, Psidium cattleianum. Macroptilium, Costus, Philodendron rubrum, Epipremnum pinnatum, Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 5166 Kauai BISH 2021-04-16
6 Odontonema cuspidatum Waimea District; Kokee, Camp 10 road, near Waineke swamp. Growing along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Brock, K. 922 Kauai BISH 2016-11-21
7 Odontonema cuspidatum Kokee, NW side of Hwy 550 at intersection with Halemanu Road Mixed with Rubus, Passiflora and Kikuyu grass. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1583 Kauai BISH 1986-03-04
8 Odontonema cuspidatum Kona District, Manoa Lyon Arboretum:H38-Near the stream at the end of access trail near pile of rocks. Preserved_Specimen Dunn, L. 578 Oahu BISH 2015-10-07
9 Odontonema cuspidatum East Maui, Hana District, Wailua, E of Wailua Falls, Honolewa Stream Growing near the road. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 119923 Maui BISH 1999-11-28
10 Odontonema cuspidatum South Kona, near Hookena On roadside with Schinus and other non-native vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 2073 Hawaii BISH 1987-08-22
11 Odontonema cuspidatum Nuuanu Pali Drive, near Judd Trailhead. Honolulu Along side of road, wet forest. Associated vegetation- Ficus, Pothos, Hau Preserved_Specimen OED 608102 Oahu BISH 2006-08-10
12 Odontonema cuspidatum Waianae Mountains, Ka'ala summit, just south of FAA facility, in a bowl below a concrete sidewalk and old tunnels. Growing into native forest. Wet native and non native vegetation. Growing with Metrosideros polymorpha Broussaisia arguta, Araucaria columnaris, Rubus argutus. Preserved_Specimen Beachy, J. 356 Oahu BISH 2014-10-23
13 Odontonema cuspidatum Along Saddle Road about 10 mi in from Waimea Above pastures in forest. Preserved_Specimen Hawaii BISH
14 Odontonema cuspidatum Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, Puu Oo Road Collected in collapsed lava tube, growing with Metrosideros and Tropaeolum, about 30 ft from road. Surrounding area is Pennisetum (kikuyu)-Axonopus-Hypochoeris pasture on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 93 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-04
15 Odontonema cuspidatum Koloa, Lawai Valley, S end of Lehelehe Rd., S of old pineapple cannery on Lauoho Rd., G. Davis, E bank of Lawai Stream, next to NTBG moist; evergreen, Inga, Syzygium cumini, Samanea saman, Aleurites moluccana Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 9075 Kauai BISH 2003-05-26
16 Odontonema cuspidatum East Maui, Hana District, Kakio Growing near the roadside in dense shade. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 119920 Maui BISH 1999-11-27
17 Odontonema cuspidatum South Kona, near Hookena On roadside with Schinus and other non-native vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Cuddihy, L.W. 2073 Hawaii BISH 1987-08-22
18 Odontonema cuspidatum Kailua, Maunawili Circle. Residential yard Plant may have been originally taken from an abandoned property in the neighborhood 25+ years ago. Since then it has spread in large patches around the yard and into neighboring yards. Preserved_Specimen Nemechek, R. Oahu BISH 2007-07-31
19 Odontonema cuspidatum Lihue, Ahina Rd, above Huleia Sream Growing in shade of understory next to road Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 1587 Kauai BISH 2007-09-26
20 Odontonema cuspidatum University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu. Magoon Greenhouse Facility Potted; growing under shade cloth. Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 1341 Oahu BISH 1985-08-23
21 Odontonema cuspidatum Honolulu: Foster Botanic Garden Preserved_Specimen Hutchison, P.C. 2855 Oahu BISH 1967-01-20
22 Odontonema cuspidatum Lawai. Along Koloa Road between Piko Road and Hailima Road Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1859 Kauai BISH 1986-08-13
23 Odontonema cuspidatum University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 586 Oahu BISH 1967-09-10
24 Odontonema cuspidatum Mokuleia Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30177 Oahu BISH 1965-09-01
25 Odontonema cuspidatum University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-24
26 Odontonema cuspidatum Honolulu, Judd St., residence of A. F. Judd Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1938-11-21
27 Odontonema cuspidatum Kaimuki, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Illingworth, J.F. Oahu BISH 1939-12-07
28 Odontonema cuspidatum Kamehameha Girls' School, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1937-09-25
29 Odontonema cuspidatum Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. Oahu BISH 1962-03-24
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