Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Scientific Name Astelia menziesiana Sm.
Family Liliaceae

Other Names Kaluaha, pua`akuhinia
Status Endemic
Distribution & Habitat Found from 610 to 2,230 m on all the main islands except Ni`ihau and Kaho`olawe.

These are epiphytic or terrestrial plants that are found in mesic to wet forests and bogs (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1461).

Locations in this Guide Thurston Lava Tube (several plants about 20 feet to the left of the trail about 2/3 of the way along the segment of trail leaving the lava tube).
General Appearance
These are perennial herbaceous plants.
Leaves
The leaves are 30 to 160 cm long and 1 to 5 cm wide.  They have conspicuous parallel veins.
Flowers & Fruits
The clusters of flowers are 3 to 20 cm long.  The flowers are greenish brown to yellow, rose, dark brownish maroon or occasionally white (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1461).
Berries are orange and ellipsoidal, from 5 to 9 mm long and 4 to 6 mm in diameter.  They contain 4 to 14 black seeds (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1461).
Phenology
Natural History
Conservation
Miscellaneous Photos
Other Notes  

References
Links to Other Sites

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Last Updated: 08/10/03

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