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Torenia asiatica

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Linderniaceae Genus: Torenia

‘ōla‘a beauty [olaa beauty], nani o ‘ōla‘a [nani o olaa], wishbone flower

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems quadrangular, glabrous to hirsute, decumbent, often rooting at the nodes, usually 1–3 dm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades ovate–deltate, 1–4.5 cm long, 0.5–2.6 cm wide. Apex obtuse to acuminate. Base truncate to truncate-cordate. Upper surfaces minutely scabrous; lower surfaces glabrous or very sparsely puberulent along the veins. Margins coarsely serrate. Petioles 0.5–1 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in the leaf axils or in cymes or raceme. Flowers bisexual (perfect), pedicels present; bracteoles absent. . Calyx cylindrical, angled but not broadly winged, 17–23 mm long, enlarging up to 40 mm long in fruit. Corolla violet purple, lower lip much paler, 15–25 mm long. Stamens 4, in 2 pairs, the upper 2 joined under upper lip of corolla, appendage at base; anthers coherent in pairs; longer Stamens with long, firm, filiform appendages above the base. Ovary superior, carpels 1, 2-carpellate, 2-locular, placentation axile; ovules orthotropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellate; style 1; stigma 1, 2-lobed.

Fruit: Capsules oblong–ovoid; ca. 1 cm long; withered style persistent. Seeds oblong–ellipsoid; ca. 0.5 mm long; reticulate–pitted.

Ploidy: 2n = 16

Habitat: Wet areas.

Elevation Range: 75–1,100 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

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

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 619 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1246 (H [as T. asiatica]); Staples et al. 2002:15 (KEY), 16 (NEWNAT/O, H, T. asiatica misapplied, in part = T. glabra); Staples & Herbst 2005:527 (DESCR [as both T. asiatica & T. glabra]); Fischer et al. 2013:220 (Syn. T. glabra = T. asiatica); Brock et al. 2023:131 (K); Oppenheimer & Pezzillo 2024:61 (EM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Torenia asiatica Ahupuaa of Kawailoa, ili of Opaeula. Northern Koolau mountains. Growing around the Opaeula cabin, intermixed with Dicranopteris linearis, Pterolepis glomerata, Metrosideros polymorpha, Miconia crenata, Sadleria pallida, Cibotium glaucum, Scaevola gaudichaudiana, and others. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herbaceous plant with opposite leaves with serrate margins. Flowers purple, zygomorphic. Plants rooting at nodes, forming a huge patch around the cabin. Thomas, M.K. 909 Oahu BISH 2024-11-21
2 Torenia asiatica Hana Hwy ca. 4 km W of Wai'anapanapa state park at roadside coconut stand and restaurant Wet, shady roadside Preserved_Specimen Trailing herb, common along the Hana Hwy. Flowers light purple with a darker throat Faccenda, K. 2749 Maui BISH 2022-10-23
3 Torenia asiatica east Maui, Hana District, Keanae, near Kuo Stream. Vegetation: Secondary Lowland Wet Forest Preserved_Specimen Locally comon herbs in understory. Oppenheimer, H.L. 61911 Maui BISH 2019-06-11
4 Torenia asiatica Lyon Arboretum, Manoa Valley, Oahu, Hawaii Growing in the gardens along the path to the Ethnobotanical Section, below the greenhouse. Preserved_Specimen Sprawling groundcover, ascending branches, purple, zygomorphic flowers. Crago, L.M. 2005223 Oahu BISH 2005-11-01
5 Torenia asiatica east Maui, Hana District, Nahiku, west of Kahawaihapapa. in disturbed understoy on flower farm Preserved_Specimen Herbs, decumbent to sprawling; flowers blue/purple. Oppenheimer, H.L. 51915 Maui BISH 2019-05-31
6 Torenia asiatica Kuamoo Road; Keahua Arboretum Growing in understory of Eucalyptus sp.; sprawling herb with purple flowers. Preserved_Specimen Frohlich, D. 2019031301 Kauai BISH 2019-03-13
7 Torenia asiatica Kawaihau District. Kuilau Trail, below Keahua Arboretum. Along side of trail in grass. Along side of trail in grass. Disturbed lowland windward Forest with weedy grasses, Sphagneticola trilobata, Lantana camara, Cyclosorus interruptus, Rubus rosifolius, Ageratina, Clidemia, Nephrolepis, Rubus rosifolius. Canopy of Aleurites, Pisonia, Senna, Persea am Preserved_Specimen Purple flowers with white flared base. Corolia falling whole. Calyx winged. Leaves grey-green below with raised secondary venation. Rooting at nodes, plants prostrate and upright. Top of leaf dull mid-green. Stem square and winged. Tangalin, N. 3561 Kauai BISH 2013-11-22
8 Torenia asiatica Hilo Foresr Reserve. Humuula Trail Growing right on trail in native Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Creeping, spreading herb, to 2' tall, locally common. Flowers purple - the tube light and the coroll alops dark. Imoto, R. 372 Hawaii BISH 1982-10-21
9 Torenia asiatica Ahuimanu, mauka end of Mapele Rd Wet, shady roadside area Preserved_Specimen Decumbent herb, rooting at nodes. Only one patch seen on this road. Flowers purple Faccenda, K. 2703 Oahu BISH 2022-09-20
10 Torenia asiatica UH-Hilo Coming up in stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate to slightly erect herb; flowers purple-blue, calyx 15mm long; leaves 15mm long. Starr, F. 108018 Hawaii BISH 2001-08-01
11 Torenia asiatica Kawaihau District. Wailua Homesteads, Kuilau Ridge Trail-side mostly on East side of trail, but also on West and occasional individuals in the middle of the trail. Occurring from the very beginning of the trail past the end at the bridge into Moalepe. w/ WedTri, CorFru, AgeCon, MegMax, CliHir, RubRos, FreArb, PsiGau, FlaMol, Senna sp. AleMol, Spermacoce remota. Preserved_Specimen Stem square was raised darker green ridges. Leaves a dark green above with impressed veins, below dull medium green with raised veins. Flower dark purple with a lighter purple on the bottom three lobes emerging from the corolla throat. Tangalin, T. 5141 Kauai BISH 2021-03-23
12 Torenia asiatica Wainiha Valley, back of valley near hydroelectric plant Infrequently mowed roadside, part shade, moist Preserved_Specimen Common, trailing, rooting at nodes, corolla purple Faccenda, K. 2424 Kauai BISH 2022-05-30
13 Torenia asiatica South Hilo District, Waiakea, Keaukaha Military Reservation Growing along jeep road through mixed native/exotic forest. Preserved_Specimen Trailing plant with blue flower. Herbst, D.R. 9781 Hawaii BISH 1996-07-05
14 Torenia asiatica east Maui, Hana District, Puohoakamoa, east side of stream. in Pandanus/Scaevola Coastal Forest and along stream. Preserved_Specimen 20 ft. Naturaized herbs. Flowers blue Oppenheimer, H.L. 112305 Maui BISH 2023-11-01
15 Torenia asiatica Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve, along Disappointment Trail (Puu Makaala access red.) off Stainback Hwy.; Metrosideros rain forest Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4843 Hawaii BISH 1983-07-26
16 Torenia asiatica Lyon arboretum, Manoa Common weed along trails and in gardens Preserved_Specimen Flowers purple, trailing herb Faccenda, K. 2715 Oahu BISH 2022-09-29
17 Torenia asiatica along backroads near Mountain View roadside vegetation Preserved_Specimen Scandent shrub. Stems quadrangular. Flowers solitary, axillary, blue. Stamens 4, 2 inserted, 2 exserted. Nagata, K.M. 2642 Hawaii BISH 1983-04-01
18 Torenia asiatica Kauai County: Kokee, Pihea Trail about 2/3 way to Pihea Vista in a low boggy area on S side of trail. Metrosideros-Dicranopteris-Diplopterygium Montane Forest W/ Metosideros polymorpha, Junchus effusus, Cyperus, Coprosma, Cheirodendron, Saddleria, Dicranopteris linearis, Diplopterygium pinnatum, Hedychium ga Preserved_Specimen Mostly prostrate herb w/ some scandent branches, branches on ground rooting at nodes. Stems, petioles, and flowers dark purple. Leaves dark green above with purple venation and margins. Only plant observed. Tangalin, N 5134 Kauai BISH 2021-03-01
19 Torenia asiatica Kawaihau District. West of Wailua Homesteads, growing along the Kuilau Trail near the trailhead off Kuamoo Road. Naturalized in area, growing in moist, disturbed areas throughout the arboretum and roads around Hanahanapun Growing along hiking trail with Urochhloa mutica, Plantago major and Spermacoce sp. Preserved_Specimen Low herb with creeping stems forming a loose mat through other vegetation; leaves dark green; flowers purple with corolla tubes detaching from the rest of the flower easily; fruit enclosed in persistant calyx; distinguished from T. asiatica by having 1-4 flowers per axil and a corolla tube paler than corolla lobes acco. Brock, K. 1045 Kauai BISH 2017-07-05
20 Torenia asiatica Hilo In waste area. Preserved_Specimen Flowers purple, plants prostrate, sometimes rooting at nodes. Oppenheimer, H.L. 40511 Hawaii BISH 2005-04-26
21 Torenia asiatica KAUAI Kawaihau District. Wailua above Keahua Arboretum and Steps or Loop Road, Power line Trail from the East side. Lowland Wet Degraded Forest w/ Ludwigia octovalis, Megathyrus mazimus, Clidemia hirata, Rubus rosifolius, Sermacoce remota, Persea Americana, Sphaeropteris cooperi, Chrysophyllum oliviforme, Lantana camara, Musa, Dicronopteris Preserved_Specimen Forming mats on the side of the trail and growing up into Uluhe. Flowers are purple with a lighter white color towards the center of the corolla. Stems intertwined on ground rooting at nodes, ridged. Leaves drk green above with impressed veins, light green below with raised veins. Tangalin, N. 187 Kauai BISH 2021-05-12
22 Torenia asiatica Hilo Forest Reserve. Humuula Trail right on trail in native Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Creeping, spreading herb to 2' tall. Flowers purple - the corolla tube light and the corolla lips dark. Imoto, R. 372 Hawaii BISH 1982-10-21
23 Torenia asiatica Puna District, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, small tract Olaa, more than 0.5 km from road closed Cibotium/Metrosideros forest Preserved_Specimen Terrestrial herb; flowers violet Cuddihy, L.W. 1918 Hawaii BISH 1985-09-10
24 Torenia asiatica North Peck Rd., NW of Glenwood marshy ground, in old cleared land Preserved_Specimen Decumbent, flowers blue-violet, paler center Fosberg, F.R. 60544 Hawaii BISH 1980-09-06
25 Torenia asiatica Puna Distr. Kamoamoa Ahu. Tr 38(56); 4km S of benchmark 2487, Volcano Rd. on lava flow below Puu Kamoamoa full sun; growing on pahoehoe lava Preserved_Specimen Herb. Light purple flower. Only 1 seen Jacobi, J.D. 1334 Hawaii BISH 1979-06-06
26 Torenia asiatica Lyon Arboretum, section H34 Preserved_Specimen weedy groundcover, naturalizing Stems decumbent, calyx winged, leaves puberulent along veins on lower surface, flowers purple Shigematsu, K. Oahu BISH 1996-09-04
27 Torenia asiatica Puna district, land of Olaa, along N. Kulani Road about 1/2 mile from Mountain View; Preserved_Specimen Decumbent herb with purple flowers Herbst, D.R. 5595 Hawaii BISH 1975-12-16
28 Torenia asiatica Kalanikoa St, Volcano. Abandoned forestry cabin where Prof. Hugh Iltis stayed Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 35245 Hawaii BISH 1977-06-13
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