Kadua laxiflora

Common Names

Hawaiian Pilo

Summary

This plant is an endemic Hawaiian subshrub in the Rubiaceae family, native to Molokai, Lanai, and Maui, commonly known as pilo. It grows 0.3–0.6 m tall with upright to ascending stems and a square cross‑section, and has glabrous bark. Leaves are opposite, 6–22 cm long and 1–7 cm wide with glabrous surfaces; adjacent stipules fuse to form a spiny leaf sheath 0.5–1.4 cm long with a spine 0.2–1.1 cm. Generative features include terminal panicles up to 30 cm bearing four‑merous, radially symmetric greenish‑white, glabrous flowers with a corolla tube 0.5–1.4 cm; fruits are capsules 0.2–0.3 cm containing dark brown, irregularly wedge‑shaped seeds.

This taxon occurs in moderately moist to moist forests in Hawaii and is globally rare, with four locations and a total population under 100 plants; it is federally endangered and listed on the IUCN Red List as Endangered. Cultivation requirements and ornamental uses are outside the scope of this text; practical considerations include extreme rarity and conservation concern, emphasizing habitat protection and avoidance of habitat disturbance.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-2 feet

Bloom Color

Greenish-white

Foliage Color

Pale underside