Cuscuta sandwichiana
| Cuscuta sandwichiana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Cuscuta |
| Species: | C. sandwichiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cuscuta sandwichiana Choisy
| |
Cuscuta sandwichiana (Kauna'oa kahakai) is a parasitic vine and the only member of the genus Cuscuta that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.[1] It parasitizes a wide variety of indigenous, endemic and introduced plants on all of the main Hawaiian islands. It grows in coastal areas with sandy soils from sea level elevation to 975 feet.[2][3] The indigenous kaunaʻoa pehu (literally "swollen kaunaʻoa") Cassytha filiformis is a similar looking species with the same parasitic nature. It is an unrelated plant in the Laurel family Lauraceae which can be distinguished by it larger, coarser yellowish-green stems.[4]
Appearance[]
Cuscuta sandwichiana is a twining vine with thin, leafless yellow to yellow-orange stems and very small yellowish flowers which grow in small clusters along the stems.[5]
Hawaiian use[]
Lei (garland): Kaunaʻoa kahakai was used for both lei o ka poʻo (head lei) and lei āʻī (neck lei)[6][7]
Medicinal: Plants of both kaunaʻoa kahakai and kaunaʻoa pehu were pounded until soft, strained, and juice drunk to thin blood for women who had given birth or who had thick blood.[8]
References[]
- ^ Bohm, Bruce A. "Flowering Plants of Hawaii". Floridata Plant Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ Wagner, Warren L. (1990). Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i (Bishop Museum Special Publication 83 ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press / Bishop Museum Press. pp. 582–583.
- ^ "Cuscuta sandwichiana". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "Cuscuta sandwichiana". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ Bornhorst, Heidi L. (1996). Growing native Hawaiian plants: a how-to guide for the gardener. Honolulu: The Bess Press. pp. 49–50.
- ^ McDonald, Marie A. (2003). Nā Lei Makamae--The Treasured Lei. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. pp. 36–37.
- ^ Neal, Marie C. (1965). In Gardens of Hawaii. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press. pp. 710–711.
- ^ Kaʻaiakamanu, Kaluna M. (2003). Native Hawaiian Medicine--Volume III (translated and edited by Malcolm Nāea Chun ed.). Honolulu: First People's Productions. pp. 58–59.
External links[]
- Native Plans Hawaii: Cuscuta sandwichiana (accessed September 17, 2015)
- Plants for Hawaiian Lei (accessed September 17, 2015)
- Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database: Cuscuta sandwichiana (accessed September 17, 2015)
- Cuscuta