| This is a prostrate
plant that often grows with branches extending many feet along the
substrate.
It is common understory plant in the upland, open parkland habitats (such as are found on the Mauna Loa Strip Road). It can also be found in lower elevation areas on open lava or cinder substrates. Generally expect to find this species in open areas such as lava or cinder fields in the mid-elevation woodland (Wagner, et al. 1990: 1125). It is also common at the top of the Strip Road in the subalpine shrubland. |
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| Notice in the picture to the right that a substantial tap root has been exposed. |  |
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| While the plant is often seen as prostrate, there are often some shoots that extend up. These upright branches can reach up some 20 cm (Wagner, et al. 1990: 1125). |  |
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| Stone and Pratt (1994:
293) describe this plant as having dark green leaves that are shiny
and less than 1/2 inch long. These are narrow and stiff leaves.
The leaves are found on crowded on lateral ascending branchlets. |
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| This species is
dioecious.
The males flowers have four stamens while the female flowers have two long, velvety, white stigmatic surfaces (Stone and Pratt 1994: 293). |
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| Female flowers.... |
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| The globose shiny black berries up to 13 mm
in diameter. On a clear day, they will easily catch your
attention since they are so shiny.
Note the persistent calyx teeth on the fruit (Wagner, et al. 1990: 1125). The berries look good enough to eat, but it is reported that the fruits are not tasty (to humans at least), although birds do eat them, including the nene (Stone and Pratt 1994: 293). |
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| SW Rift Zone | One plant with a few male flowers. | 5/6/01 |
| SW Rift Zone | A large plant with male flowers. | 6/2/01 |
| SW Rift Zone | The large plant still has abundant male flowers. | 6/10/01 |
| Mid-Elevation Woodland | One plant with female flowers, no fruit. | 6/10/01 |
| SW Rift Zone | None of the plants with flowers. | 8/4/01 |
From an evolutionary perspective, this genus is interesting because dozens of species are endemic to Hawaii. It is thought that they originated from two or three colonizers (Stone and Pratt 1994: 293).