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Plumbago zeylanica

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Plumbaginaceae Genus: Plumbago

‘ilie‘e [iliee], ‘ilieo, ‘ilihe‘e [ilihee], hilie‘e [hiliee], lauhihi (Ni‘ihau)

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Sprawling shrubs.

Stems: Stems 0.5–2.5 m long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, well–developed on flowering stems. Blades ovate, 3–12.5 cm long, 2–5 cm wide. Apex acute to acuminate. Base rounded to broadly cuneate. Surfaces glabrous. Margins entire. Petioles 0.3–1.5 cm long, base auriculate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in racemes 6–30 cm long, rachis stipitate glandular, bracts small. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Calyx tubular, 5-lobed, plicate, sinuses scarious, 7–11 mm long, densely stipitate glandular, glands much longer than those of rachis, ribs dark green. Corolla of 5 petals, white, salverform, the tube slender, persistent, tube 18–23 mm long, the lobes obovate, 6–7 mm long, convolute in bud. Stamens 5, distinct, opposite the petals; anthers blue or purple dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, carpels 5, 1-celled, glabrous; ovule 1, anatropous, on an elongate funiculus, placentation basal; style short, glabrous, deeply 5-lobed.

Fruit: Capsules membranous; oblong; ca. 4–5 mm long; glabrous; circumscissile near base; enclosed by the calyx and corolla. Seeds 1 per fruit; dark purplish brown; ca. 4 mm long.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 28

Habitat: Arid; disturbed areas; sand dunes; and dry forest and shrubland.

Elevation Range: 0–610 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • For pehu o ka ‘ili (and other swellings) the treatment combines tap roots, epidermis, and leaves of the ‘ilie‘e with salt and he‘i fruit (papaya, Carica papaya). For sores, the leaves and stems of the ‘ilie‘e are pounded and ground with koali pehu (Ipomoea alba) and a type of grass, then added to the sap from stems of he‘i fruits (Chun 1994:104–105).

  • Juice from roots used as a tattoo pigments that ranged from navy blue to black (Abbott 1992:128).

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • Easy. Seeds germinate in 3-4 weeks; once in individual pots begin watering with dilute liquid fertilizer to speed up growth; stem cuttings develop roots in 1 month, wait for good stem growth before repotting (Culliney and Koebele 1999:68–70).

Ethnobotanical Images

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Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous

Island Status

Ka'ula Indigenous
Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Indigenous
Kaua'i Indigenous
O'ahu Indigenous
Molokai Indigenous
Lana'i Indigenous
Kaho'olawe Indigenous
Maui Indigenous
Hawai'i Indigenous

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • 0-610 m
  • Description digitized by Joanne
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • calyx makes species well adapted for wide dispersal by migrating shore birds, plant used as baby medicine and sap used to blacken tattoos in Hawaii

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 151 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1056 (Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:460 (DESCR); Note: Kl added, based on BISH spms. (R. Daehler 13, R. Daehler 16)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Plumbago zeylanica West Maui, Pohakea Gulch arid, rocky Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9678 Maui BISH 1927-07-11
2 Plumbago zeylanica Valley near Koko Head In arid Prosopis - Lantana jungle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2467 Oahu BISH 1928-01-28
3 Plumbago zeylanica Koko Crater Dry Plain. Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. Oahu BISH 1931-01-01
4 Plumbago zeylanica Kalaeahole arid rocks Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 24272 Lanai BISH 1957-08-11
5 Plumbago zeylanica East Maui, 9.4 mi E of Ulupalakua Ranch on Piilani Hwy., 3.5 mi W of Manawainui disturbed, with Lantana Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4762 Maui BISH 1983-01-14
6 Plumbago zeylanica valley E. of Hahaione Dry slopes Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1621 Oahu BISH 1931-02-25
7 Plumbago zeylanica Lualualei-Nanakuli haole koa zone. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. Oahu BISH 1987-01-01
8 Plumbago zeylanica Kealia, field no. Waianae 582 at the top of the haole koa zone, common on exposed rock but also penetrating into understory situations Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 3083 Oahu BISH 1986-12-21
9 Plumbago zeylanica Makolelau AHU. Tr 7(26); Along ridge S of Puu Kolekole Dry exotic grassland with native and exotic shrubs and scattered native trees. Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 3887 Molokai BISH 1979-06-20
10 Plumbago zeylanica Makaha valley Frequent, not common though, in undeveloped area behind golf course, under Leucaena. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 104 Oahu BISH 1979-05-12
11 Plumbago zeylanica Nanakuli-Lualualei, field no. Waianae 763 Base of divide among Schinus, draped over boulders. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 3263 Oahu BISH 1987-01-18
12 Plumbago zeylanica East Maui, Wailuku District, Kamaole. Occasional; forming patches in remnant Erythrina Dry Forest and pasture. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 21117 Maui BISH 2011-02-25
13 Plumbago zeylanica Lualualei, field no. Waianae 743 b common among boulders in dry streambed, often associating with stands of haole koa. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 3243 Oahu BISH 1987-01-11
14 Plumbago zeylanica Kawela, Kamakou Preserve, Kaunakakai Gulch Below Myrsine lanaiensis, growing with Doryopteria decipiens. Preserved_Specimen Anderson, S.J. 532 Molokai BISH 1982-05-26
15 Plumbago zeylanica Makapuu Point Arid slope with Lantana and other scrub vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9677 Oahu BISH 1925-01-01
16 Plumbago zeylanica Kawaihapai, Kawaihapai sparsely wooded rather dry slope Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 8878 Oahu BISH 1932-12-11
17 Plumbago zeylanica Kaunakakai Saddle on hills, along road to Maunahui. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12643 Molokai BISH 1932-12-26
18 Plumbago zeylanica Kaalualu Bay near South Point pasture Preserved_Specimen Whistler, W.A. 32 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
19 Plumbago zeylanica Waimea Canyon, base of Kukui Trail dry forest; Diospyros, Sapindus, Melia, Schinus, Psidium, Erythrina, Eugenia cumini Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2469 Kauai BISH 1972-06-02
20 Plumbago zeylanica Kuapa dry slopes Preserved_Specimen Brown, F.B.H. 1314 Oahu BISH 1924-08-23
21 Plumbago zeylanica Palawai Gulch, Waianae Mts., Honouliuli Dry slope Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 10931 Oahu BISH 1935-06-30
22 Plumbago zeylanica East Maui, Hana District, Alena, Ulupalakua-Hana road, Lualailua Hills aa lava Preserved_Specimen Chock, A.K. 322 Maui BISH 1951-12-26
23 Plumbago zeylanica Lualualei, field no. Waianae 743 a common among boulders in dry streambed. Often associating with stands of haole koa. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 3243 Oahu BISH 1987-01-11
24 Plumbago zeylanica Puuwai Dry plains Preserved_Specimen Christensen, C. 141 Niihau BISH 1977-02-12
25 Plumbago zeylanica Kuliouou Valley Growing on rocky stone wall in pasture, midway into valley. Preserved_Specimen Ishikawa, S. 39 Oahu BISH 1972-01-20
26 Plumbago zeylanica Below water tank near Kapaula Heiau, Polihale In roadside scrub. Preserved_Specimen Hume, L. 286 Kauai BISH 1988-01-17
27 Plumbago zeylanica Ewa Coral Plain, 3 km. east of Barber's Point Occasional in semi-shade in Prosopis forest on coral flat Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29695 Oahu BISH 1948-03-19
28 Plumbago zeylanica Mapulou [sp?] Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 6157 Molokai BISH 1910-03-22
29 Plumbago zeylanica Waipio Gulch Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1583 Oahu BISH 1910-04-15
30 Plumbago zeylanica Beach E of Barbers Pt Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29521 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
31 Plumbago zeylanica Waipio Gulch Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1583 Oahu BISH 1910-04-15
32 Plumbago zeylanica Kalaupapa; airport, 200 m WSW of runway start Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 587 Molokai BISH 2005-01-27
33 Plumbago zeylanica Kaula Rock Preserved_Specimen Daehler, R. 16 Kaula Rock BISH 1971-08-18
34 Plumbago zeylanica Waipio Gulch Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1583 Oahu BISH 1910-04-15
35 Plumbago zeylanica Kauluwai Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 6185 Molokai BISH 1910-03-27
36 Plumbago zeylanica Palawai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 184 Lanai BISH 1913-10-22
37 Plumbago zeylanica Cultivated in Honolulu Board of Water Supply Halawa Xeriscape Garden, Halawa Valley Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 9245 Oahu BISH 1990-03-03
38 Plumbago zeylanica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 385 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
39 Plumbago zeylanica along Piilani Hwy. near Ulupalakua Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1985 Maui BISH 1971-07-09
40 Plumbago zeylanica Kaula Rock Preserved_Specimen Daehler, R. 13 Kaula Rock BISH 1976-01-21
41 Plumbago zeylanica Leahi Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 226 Oahu BISH 1864-01-01
42 Plumbago zeylanica Maunalei Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 505 Lanai BISH 1930-02-11
43 Plumbago zeylanica Makaleha Valley Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 3040 Oahu BISH 1925-02-22
44 Plumbago zeylanica Waianae Mts., E side Preserved_Specimen Gillespie, J.W. 1047 Oahu BISH 1927-07-06
45 Plumbago zeylanica Haupu Range above Nawiliwili Bay Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 708 Kauai BISH 1916-10-31
46 Plumbago zeylanica Kealia trail, above Mokuleia Preserved_Specimen Rockafellow, R. Oahu BISH 1956-11-11
47 Plumbago zeylanica Lower part of Kupehau Gulch in the Waianae's Preserved_Specimen Wilbur, R.L. 300 Oahu BISH 1947-11-06
48 Plumbago zeylanica Salt Lake Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1909-02-18
49 Plumbago zeylanica Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1916-01-01
50 Plumbago zeylanica Kaali Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
51 Plumbago zeylanica Ewa Beach Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1956-06-21
52 Plumbago zeylanica Koko Crater, rim Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1930-03-30
53 Plumbago zeylanica Kahoolawe Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Kahoolawe BISH 1913-02-10
54 Plumbago zeylanica Mana Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Hawaii BISH 1909-06-01
55 Plumbago zeylanica Between north and S ridges. Nanakuli Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1946-01-19
56 Plumbago zeylanica Maui Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Maui BISH 1933-01-01
57 Plumbago zeylanica Palawai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 322 Lanai BISH
58 Plumbago zeylanica Waiopai, S slope of Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1854 Maui BISH 1920-03-05
59 Plumbago zeylanica Barber's Pt. quarry Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 137 Oahu BISH 1982-01-30
60 Plumbago zeylanica Coral plain below Ewa & Sisal Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2340 Oahu BISH 1916-03-14
61 Plumbago zeylanica N. Kona, 27 mi N of intersection of Kealakikua Rd. and Belt Rd., Kaupulahu Preserved_Specimen Ozaki, E.T. 1321 Hawaii BISH 1954-12-28
62 Plumbago zeylanica Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range Under very shady Prosopis canopy. With Panicum maximum, Asystasia gangetica, Leucaena leucocephala, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Rivina humilis (779249). Preserved_Specimen BISH staff 29 Oahu BISH 2021-04-30
63 Plumbago zeylanica Waianae Mts., Makaleha Roadside weed Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. 689 Oahu BISH 1929-01-13
64 Plumbago zeylanica Puu Ka Pele Forest Reserve; Kaaweki Valley 3.4 mi from Hwy 550 Sprawling shrub in Aleurites grove, locally common. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2048 Kauai BISH 1987-01-07
65 Plumbago zeylanica Poooneone Sand dunes, thicket Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22741 Niihau BISH 1947-08-12
66 Plumbago zeylanica Makaha, Makaha Valley near Kepuhi Pt In low brush and weeds just above beach. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 10518 Oahu BISH 1933-04-23
67 Plumbago zeylanica Beach E of Barbers Pt Common on very dry coral sand and rock at the edge of Prosopis forest Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29521 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
68 Plumbago zeylanica Ewa Beach Growing beneath Leucaena, with Asystasia in dense shade. Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 80 Oahu BISH 1979-02-23
69 Plumbago zeylanica East of Palikea Dry sunny streambed Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10491 Oahu BISH 1936-03-01
70 Plumbago zeylanica N. Kona, Puuwaawaa dry aa lava Preserved_Specimen Webster, G.L. 1882 Hawaii BISH 1948-06-21
71 Plumbago zeylanica Palawai, Hulopoe Bay grasslands on dry basalt Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 18776 Lanai BISH 1938-04-11
72 Plumbago zeylanica North of campsite, Polihale Beach About 100 yards north of campsite, below Polihale Ridge. Under shrubbery above rocky shoreline. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-09-24
73 Plumbago zeylanica Waimea rocks Preserved_Specimen Faurie, A. 540 Kauai BISH 1910-03-01
74 Plumbago zeylanica Kalaupapa Trail In Aleurites forest. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 25258 Molokai BISH 1953-12-25
75 Plumbago zeylanica Mokuleia region Arid rocky pasture near sea. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9675 Oahu BISH 1933-03-14
76 Plumbago zeylanica below Hilina Pali toward the coast shade of Porsopis and Leucaena trees Preserved_Specimen Mueller-Dombois, D. 265 Hawaii BISH 1965-08-11
77 Plumbago zeylanica East Maui, Hana District, Lualailua Hills dry scrub Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 24738 Maui BISH 1957-12-26
78 Plumbago zeylanica near the mouth of Milolii Valley, Na Pali Coast Growing under the shade of a closed Leucaena leucocephala forest. Preserved_Specimen Clarke, G. 393 Kauai BISH 1979-07-19
79 Plumbago zeylanica Waimea District. Koaie, dividing ridge between Hipalau and Kawaiiki, called by local botanists The Great Escarpment. Mixed mesic forest, summer dry, steep north facing slopes and cliff habitat w/ Diospyros sandwicensis, Acacia koaia, Planchonella sandwicensis, Santalum pyrularium, Chrysodracon aurea, Myrsine lanaiensis, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Psydrax odorata, Hibiscus waimeae, Flueggea neo. Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 16716 Kauai BISH 2016-01-14
80 Plumbago zeylanica Kawaihapai, Uluhulu Gulch thicket Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 9998 Oahu BISH 1929-11-03
81 Plumbago zeylanica East Maui, ~5.3 mi E of Ulupalakua dry aa lava, under Erythrina tree Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 843 Maui BISH 1968-01-01
82 Plumbago zeylanica Plain between Koko Crater and Makapuu level plain Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 185 Oahu BISH 1931-04-19
83 Plumbago zeylanica Mokuleia, N Waianae Mts, Kealia Trail dry forest; with Leucaena leucocephala, Panicum maximum, Ficus Preserved_Specimen Ray, G. 2 Oahu BISH 1997-05-27
84 Plumbago zeylanica Puu Kuua, Waianae Mts, Honouliuli On dry slopes Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11164 Oahu BISH 1931-11-22
85 Plumbago zeylanica Mahana Ahupuaa, East of Keomuku Road and E of Kuahua Gulch. Transect La, Station 29. Dry exotic grassland with mixed native and exotic shrubs. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2215 Lanai BISH 1979-04-04
86 Plumbago zeylanica Haili, field no. Waianae 580 forming extensive mats above the streambed, often with Sida meyeniana and haole koa. Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 3081 Oahu BISH 1986-12-21
87 Plumbago zeylanica Kapuna Near streambed with Leucaena leucocephala and Aleurites. Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 459 Oahu BISH 1990-05-21
88 Plumbago zeylanica Nihoa Gulch, Kaena thicket Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11139 Oahu BISH 1931-11-15
89 Plumbago zeylanica Hanalei District. Napali Coast State Park, Kalalau Beach along trail to waterfall Degraded coastal strand community. Canavalia napaliensis, Lantana, Thevetia peruviana, Syzygium cumini, Cananvalia cathartica, Morinda citrifolia, Citrys, Nicotiana tabacum, Tecoma capensis, Psidium guajava, Melia azedarach Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 2866 Kauai BISH 2011-10-20
90 Plumbago zeylanica Kawela, Kamakou Preserve, Kaunakakai Gulch Below Myrsine lanaiensis, growing with Doryopteris decipiens. Preserved_Specimen Anderson, S.J. 532 Molokai BISH 1982-05-26
91 Plumbago zeylanica Haleiwa Dry rocky pasture. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9676 Oahu BISH 1923-06-02
92 Plumbago zeylanica Punaluu shore Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11315 Hawaii BISH 1931-12-25
93 Plumbago zeylanica flats on Mokapu Peninsula, brushy flat Growing among lantana. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 12848 Oahu BISH 1936-01-26
94 Plumbago zeylanica Poipu, Waiohai vacent lot, ~25 acres Preserved_Specimen Dunn, L. 290 Kauai BISH 2003-10-02
95 Plumbago zeylanica Southwest of Makapuu Head Among rocks in arid region. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10490 Oahu BISH 1936-04-10
96 Plumbago zeylanica Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Kipuka at the head of the trail towards Pohaku Paea from the midstop along Makena-Keoneoio road Pockets of vegetation in a'a lava and at roadside. Straggling plants in the shade of Solanum and Prosopis. Preserved_Specimen Abbott, I.A. 91.47 Maui BISH 1991-03-06
97 Plumbago zeylanica Kealia Pali On pali face near water seeps. Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. 783 Oahu BISH 1934-09-25
98 Plumbago zeylanica Maunalua, Koko Crater Botanical Garden Scattered on roadside waste ground and among shrubs. Preserved_Specimen Mäkinen, L. 66418 Oahu BISH 1966-02-26
99 Plumbago zeylanica Nonoula. Ahupuaa of Waimanalo. Growing under Neltuma pallida with Jacquemontia sandwicensis, Cenchrus ciliaris, Sida fallax, Boerhavia acutifolia, Dactyloctenium aegyptum, and others on northern rim of crater near ihiihilauakea. Preserved_Specimen Thomas, M.K. 1012 Oahu BISH 2025-04-01
100 Plumbago zeylanica Mokapu Islet dry; Chamaesyce celastroides, Chenopodium oahuense, Diospyros sandwicensis, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Cassytha filiformis, Artemisia australis, Sida fallax, Plumbago zeylanica, Dianella sandwicensis, Melanthera integrifolia, Lepidium bidentatum Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 11726 Molokai BISH 2006-01-10
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