Cuscuta sandwichiana
An endemic Hawaiian parasitic, leafless vine in the Convolvulaceae with yellow stems, haustorial attachment to diverse hosts, no chlorophyll, tiny yellow flowers in compact cymose clusters, and tiny capsules containing 1–4 dark reddish-brown seeds, thriving in coastal sandy habitats from sea level to about 975 feet.
Common Names
Kauna'oa, Dodder, Kauna'oa Kahakai, Kauna'oa Lei, Kauno'a, Pololo
Summary
Kauna'oa is a Hawaiian endemic parasitic twining vine with slender, leafless stems yellow to yellow-orange and very small yellowish flowers in clusters along the stems, grown in coastal sandy soils and parasitizing a variety of indigenous and endemic plants on all main Hawaiian islands except Kaua'i and Kaho'olawe, from sea level to 300 m elevation.
Propagation occurs by seeds and cuttings: seed capsules are 1/16 inch in diameter and seeds dark reddish brown, smeared onto host stems to germinate and parasitize, while cuttings can be wrapped around host plants; uses include lei haku and worn by hula dancers, with traditional uses listed as lei (flower or seed) and medicine.
Lifecycle
Annual
Soil Type
Sandy soil
Soil Drainage
Sandy soils
Bloom Color
Yellowish
Bloom Time
All year
Foliage Color
No foliage.
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow to yellow-orange
Growth Rate
Annual
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds and Cuttings
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Choisy
- Publication
- Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 9: 280 (1841 publ. 1842)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Solanales
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
- Genus
- Cuscuta