Clermontia samuelii

Common Names

Hana Clermontia, Oha Wai

Summary

Hana clermontia is a Hawaiian lobelioid shrub or small tree endemic to East Maui, thriving in montane wet forest and reaching up to about 5 meters tall. It has elliptical leaves 5–10 cm long and 1.8–4.5 cm wide, with a dark green upper surface often purplish and a pale green, hairy lower surface, margins thickened with shallow teeth; inflorescences bear 2–5 flowers on 4–18 mm peduncles; a hypanthium 8–14 mm long and 5–10 mm wide; sepals and petals rose or greenish white to white; flowers 36–55 mm long with lobes erect, 0.2–0.5× beyond the tube. Subspecies hanaensis features greenish white to white flowers and longer, narrower leaves with fewer hairs on the lower leaf surface.

Endangered with fewer than 250 mature individuals and eight known locations on East Maui, from Keanae Valley to Manawainui along Haleakalā; some populations are protected within Haleakalā National Park; threats include invasive plants Tibouchina herbacea and Paspalum urvillei and feral pigs; conservation actions include habitat protection, research on biology and the impacts of invasive species, and propagation in the park greenhouse.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

16 ft - 16 ft 5 in

Soil Type

Wet soils (bog margins)

Soil Drainage

Poorly drained soils

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Time

Year-round

Foliage Color

Dark green, often purplish-tinged.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds