Description
Key Characters:
Growth Form:
Liana.
Stems:
Roots:
Leaves:
Leaves simple.
Alternate.
Blades deeply 3–lobed, divided ca. ¾ their length, lobes lanceolate, 6–18 cm long, 6–15 cm wide.
Apex of lobes acuminate.
Base rounded to subcordate.
Lower surfaces pubescent.
Margins coarsely dentate to crenate.
Petioles 1.8–6.5 cm long, with 2 saucer–shaped nectaries at base.
Stipules linear–lanceolate, ca. 5 mm long, often deciduous.
Flowers:
Flowers solitary.
Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, 10– 18 cm in diameter, peduncles stout, 2.3–3.5 cm long. Hypanthium tubular, ca. 1 cm long; corona red to bright yellow, with white spots or streaks, in 2 series, inner one tubular, outer one filamentous, 5–10 mm long.
Calyx of 5 sepals, bright red.
Corolla of 5 petals, alternate with the sepals, bright red.
Stamens 5(–8), on an androgynophore; anthers dithecal, versatile, opening by longitudinal slits.
Ovary superior, stipitate, placentation parietal; ovules anatropous.
Fruit:
Berries green with white speckles; ovoid; 4–7 cm long; 3–4 cm in diameter. Self–incompatible (Snow; 1982).
Seeds numerous; Seed coat reticulate; with an aromatic; succulent; edible aril; embryo embedded in copious oily; soft fleshy endosperm.
Ploidy:
2n = 18*
Habitat:
Mesic; disturbed forest.
Elevation Range:
100–130 m.
Island Status
Kaua'i
Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Potentially naturalizing