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Cuscuta sandwichiana

Choisy (1842)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Genus: Cuscuta

kauna‘oa [kaunaoa], kauna‘oa kahakai [kaunaoa kahakai], kauna‘oa lei [kaunaoa lei], kauno‘a, pōlolo [pololo]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Parasitic, annual or perennial, twining vines, attaching to the host by haustoria, appearing leafless and rootless, chlorophyll absent or scanty.

Stems: Stems slender, yellow to yellowish orange, usually filiform juvenile plants with a small root system that rapidly degenerates, at maturity plants not connected to the ground, pubescent with simple hairs.

Roots:

Leaves: Alternate. Leaves very reduced, scale-like. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in compact, short–pedicellate, cymose clusters, often glandular pubescent. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, 5-merous. Calyx of (3)4–5 sepals; sepals distinct or connate at base, sometimes connate nearly to apex, lobes triangular–ovate, nearly enclosing the corolla, apex acute to obtuse. Corolla of 5 fused petals, urceolate, campanulate, or cylindrical, (3)4–5-merous, the tube usually bearing variously fringed or cleft scales below stamens; corolla lobes white or pink, imbricate, ovate to triangular in older flowers, erect, apex acute or obtuse, the tip inflexed, the tube campanulate, nearly as long as lobes. Staminal filaments shorter than lobes, scales below Stamens absent or reduced and triangular or forked; anthers shorter than filaments. Ovary superior, 2(3)-carpellate, with as many cells, the partition sometimes incomplete, placentation basal-axile; ovules 2 per cell, anatropous; styles stout, about as long as the globose ovary; stigmas capitate.

Fruit: Circumscissile or irregularly dehiscent capsules; sometimes indehiscent and then usually somewhat fleshy; capsules globose to depressed–globose; ca. 3–3.5 mm in diameter; the withered corolla surrounding the capsules. Seeds 1–4; the surface smooth or roughened; nearly without cotyledons; endosperm starchy; dark reddish brown; depressed–globose; ca. 2 mm long.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Scattered to locally common; it appears not to be host specific; in coastal areas; often in sandy soil.

Elevation Range: 0–300 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • The kauna‘oa is combined with moa holokula, moa lelo (?Psilotum nudum), and kī leaf buds (Cordyline fruticosa), ingested to induce vomitting to rid thick phlegm (chest cold) from the stomach. In addition, a liquid concoction is made of kaukao‘a lelo and water and administered to women after childbirth to discharge the placenta and remove accumulated blood (Chun 1994:140–141).

  • Used in lei haku frequently worn by hula dancers (Abbott 1992:128)

CULTURE

  • Lei ana i ka pua o ke kauna‘oa line in "Lāni‘i" (Elbert & Mahoe 1970:73).

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • The seed capsules of Cuscuta sandwichiana are 1/16 inch in diameter and round. The tiny seeds are dark reddish brown. The seeds can be smeared onto the stems of a host plant (preferably a relatively undesirable one). They will often germinate and parasitize the host plant. (Bornhorst 1996; Wagner 1990)
  • Cuscuta sandwichiana can also be grown by wrapping cuttings around host plants such as weeds or other unwanted plants. (Bornhorst 1996) [Data from Herring, E. C., & Criley, R. A. (2003). The Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Web Site: Developing a Webbased Information Resource. HortTechnology, 13(3), 545-548. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/]

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

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

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 9: 280 (1841 publ. 1842)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:582 (Ni, O, Mo, L, M, H); Herbarium Pacificum Staff 1997:18 (K); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:168 (Ka)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Cuscuta sandwichiana crater of Diamond Head Edge of thicket, on Sida and other plants. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 17990 Oahu BISH 1937-05-28
2 Cuscuta sandwichiana Diamond Head crater On Sida sp. Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. Oahu BISH 1907-09-15
3 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaupuu Sand dunes. Preserved_Specimen Christensen, C. 143 Niihau BISH 1977-02-12
4 Cuscuta sandwichiana East fork of Kawela Gulch On Ipomoea in hot arid ravine. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 3261 Molokai BISH 1928-05-05
5 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kailua Along beach on Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2000 Oahu BISH 1926-08-19
6 Cuscuta sandwichiana Halawa Valley On Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9830 Molokai BISH 1928-06-21
7 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaimuki, Honolulu On Ipomoea in rather arid situation. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 3262 Oahu BISH 1928-02-03
8 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kau Distr., Ninole, Wailua Ninole Top of beach. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 23949 Hawaii BISH 1949-12-25
9 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaneohe Bay Roadside. Preserved_Specimen MacCaughey, V. 11 Oahu BISH 1910-07-03
10 Cuscuta sandwichiana Keomuku Highway, near On Sida, Waltheria, grasses. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30758 Lanai BISH 1963-07-17
11 Cuscuta sandwichiana Makaha Beach. Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7314 Oahu BISH 1934-09-01
12 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kona, Keei On Ipomoea pes-caprae on beach. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9832 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-22
13 Cuscuta sandwichiana Paomai Ahupuaa, In gulch west of Kuahua Road. Transect La, Station 10. Dry exotic grassland with mixed native and exotic shrubs. Preserved_Specimen Jacobi, J.D. 1254 Lanai BISH 1979-04-04
14 Cuscuta sandwichiana Le'ahi, along southern rim Buffelgrass-Koa Haole savannah, dry, sunny Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 3107 Oahu BISH 2023-05-18
15 Cuscuta sandwichiana Near Moomomi On Heliotropium curassavicum near coast. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9829 Molokai BISH 1928-04-25
16 Cuscuta sandwichiana Diamond Head, Ke Kuaaina Garden of native plants On Chenopodium sp. Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Oahu BISH
17 Cuscuta sandwichiana Diamond Head Crater, Honolulu Dry Prosopis forest. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13890 Oahu BISH 1937-05-28
18 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kailua Along beach on Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2000 Oahu BISH 1926-08-19
19 Cuscuta sandwichiana Keaau Valley, north side near sea Common, parasitic on Ipomoea pes-caprae on open sand flats back of beach. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 27141 Oahu BISH 1946-10-27
20 Cuscuta sandwichiana Poaiwa Along shore, mainly on Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28605 Lanai BISH 1963-07-24
21 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kahului, beach with morning glories and grass Preserved_Specimen Abbott, I.A. 16753 Maui BISH 1984-07-01
22 Cuscuta sandwichiana South Point, windswept coast Growing on Sida. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4886 Hawaii BISH 1983-07-28
23 Cuscuta sandwichiana Beach northwest of Kahului Along beach on strand plants. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9822 Maui BISH 1933-08-17
24 Cuscuta sandwichiana Windward Oahu, Makapuu Lava rock with sand. Littoral vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 397 Oahu BISH 1973-07-15
25 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaimuki, Honolulu On Ipomoea in rather arid situation. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 32622516 Oahu BISH 1928-02-03
26 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kalaupapa; peninsula, base of lighthouse stairs ilima Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 617 Molokai BISH 2005-02-08
27 Cuscuta sandwichiana Mahana, near abandoned lighthouse On Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 24212 Lanai BISH 1957-08-20
28 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kailikii, Kau Beach. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 33518 Hawaii BISH 1974-12-21
29 Cuscuta sandwichiana Northwest shore, Camp Erdman Sandy seashore, forming large patches on Ipomoea pes-caprae and Cynodon dactylon var. maritimum. Preserved_Specimen Mäkinen, L. 66959 Oahu BISH 1966-06-18
30 Cuscuta sandwichiana Mokuleia, Camp Erdman, YMCA Camp In sand dunes, back of beach, growing on Ipomoea pes-caprae and Euphorbia degeneri. Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. 388 Oahu BISH 1959-05-17
31 Cuscuta sandwichiana West side of Kahului Bay Dry, sandy, sea level. Associated with Pluchea, Cynodon, Scaevola, Jacquemontia, Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2132 Maui BISH 1971-09-14
32 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kamalino, on beach Coastal strand vegetation. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22774 Niihau BISH 1947-08-13
33 Cuscuta sandwichiana Ke Kuaaina, Na Laau Hawaii, Diamond Head on ilima and alaweo Preserved_Specimen Oahu BISH 1962-03-10
34 Cuscuta sandwichiana Manawahinui Gulch On Sida etc., on sun-scorched flat near ocean. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21983 Maui BISH 1952-02-27
35 Cuscuta sandwichiana Leinohaunui Pali On Sida etc., on sun-scorched lava above ocean. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28629 Lanai BISH 1963-07-20
36 Cuscuta sandwichiana Mahana, near abandoned lighthouse On Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 24212 Lanai BISH 1957-08-20
37 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaneohe Bay Roadside. Preserved_Specimen MacCaughey, V. 17 Oahu BISH 1910-07-03
38 Cuscuta sandwichiana East Maui, Makawao District, Kanaio AHU near Kamanamana Point On shoreline w/Ipomoea pes-caprae, Waltheria, Hibiscus tiliaceus. Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 602 Maui BISH 1983-11-20
39 Cuscuta sandwichiana Waimea District, Kekaha. Along Hwy 50 fronting the beach Coastal strand vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Koske Kauai BISH 1989-06-01
40 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kapapa Islet, Kaneohe Bay Raised coral reef with shallow, sandy soil. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6118 Oahu BISH 1978-05-24
41 Cuscuta sandwichiana Wawaeku, road up to Growing on Dodonaea directly adjacent to vines of Cassytha. Substrate is highly weathered lithified dunes. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2204 Lanai BISH 1984-10-23
42 Cuscuta sandwichiana East Kamiloloa, along side of jeep trail, large gulch NW section of survey area (Molokai Project) Open mixed scrub. On Sida. Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 82.037 Molokai BISH 1982-11-27
43 Cuscuta sandwichiana Near Moomomi On Heliotropium curassavicum near coast. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2769 Molokai BISH 1928-04-19
44 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaena Point On a prostate mat of Sida fallax Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 38 Oahu BISH 1984-01-28
45 Cuscuta sandwichiana (see label) Kau District. in patches of sandy soil in lava flows Preserved_Specimen Lane, I.E. 49554 Hawaii BISH 1949-01-01
46 Cuscuta sandwichiana East of South Point On Sida, growing on aa lava flow. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9833 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-16
47 Cuscuta sandwichiana Lualualei, near beach Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1936 Oahu BISH 1914-07-01
48 Cuscuta sandwichiana Waimea District. Kekaha, ocean side of coastal road (HWY 50) across from ball park. Ipomoea pes-caprae coastal strand Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 16166 Kauai BISH 2014-12-14
49 Cuscuta sandwichiana East Maui, Makawao District, Kanaio AHU near Kamanamana Point On shoreline w/Ipomoea pes-caprae, Waltheria, Hibiscus tiliaceus. Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 602 Maui BISH 1983-11-20
50 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kalue (not Kaaha), Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Growing on Ipomoea pes-caprae near Messerschmidia and Cordia. Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 6871 Hawaii BISH 1983-12-11
51 Cuscuta sandwichiana Mahana Ahupuaa, East of keomuku Road and just east of Kuahua Gulch. Transect La, Station 29. Dry exotic grassland with mixed native and exotic shrubs. Growing on low-growing Sida. Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2218 Lanai BISH 1979-04-04
52 Cuscuta sandwichiana Miki On ilima. Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 104 Lanai BISH 1913-11-14
53 Cuscuta sandwichiana East fork of Kawela Gulch On Ipomoea in hot arid ravine. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 3261 Molokai BISH 1928-05-05
54 Cuscuta sandwichiana On slopes of Puumahanalua Scrubby dryland vegetation of Dodonaea, Waltheria, Heteropogon, Asclepias physocarpa, Sida fallax. Preserved_Specimen Puttock, C.F. Lanai BISH 2003-06-16
55 Cuscuta sandwichiana W Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina Growing on Hibiscus hedge, the host plant (probably a hybrid cultivar; flowers pink). Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50109 Maui BISH 2001-05-12
56 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kawaihapai Arid bottom of cliff. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9831 Oahu BISH 1929-01-27
57 Cuscuta sandwichiana W Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina Growing on Hibiscus hedge, the host plant (probably a hybrid cultivar; flowers pink). Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50109 Maui BISH 2002-01-14
58 Cuscuta sandwichiana Hilo Sunny situation near ocean. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 1639 Hawaii BISH 1922-12-01
59 Cuscuta sandwichiana S Kohala, Kaunaoa Beach Resort, back of beach On Ipomoea pes-caprae. Preserved_Specimen Price, J.P. 70 Hawaii BISH 2001-08-06
60 Cuscuta sandwichiana Maunalei Growing over uhaloa [Waltheria] in dry open pasture. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1968 Lanai BISH 1938-04-14
61 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kapapa, Oahu. On S side A patch on ilima on south side. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5041838 Oahu BISH 2005-04-18
62 Cuscuta sandwichiana Hauula Near coast on Scaevola. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 1562 Oahu BISH 1925-01-01
63 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaohikaipu Islet, Waimanalo Bay Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14064 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
64 Cuscuta sandwichiana Beach east of Barber's Point Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29523 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
65 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaneohe Bay Preserved_Specimen MacCaughey, V. 19 Oahu BISH 1910-07-03
66 Cuscuta sandwichiana Miki Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 228 Lanai BISH 1913-11-14
67 Cuscuta sandwichiana Moomomi Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 14012 Molokai BISH 1918-05-20
68 Cuscuta sandwichiana Moomomi Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 14012 Molokai BISH 1918-05-20
69 Cuscuta sandwichiana Paia Beach Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 278 Maui BISH 1910-01-01
70 Cuscuta sandwichiana Barbers Point coral plain, north of Ewa Preserved_Specimen Cowan, R.S. 785 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
71 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kualoa Pasture Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3011 Oahu BISH
72 Cuscuta sandwichiana Molokini Islet Preserved_Specimen Palmer, H. 11 Maui BISH 1925-08-13
73 Cuscuta sandwichiana Back of sandy beach about 200 yds. east of Camp Erdman Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 750 Oahu BISH 1967-11-27
74 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kailua, Kona Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2000 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-19
75 Cuscuta sandwichiana Waianae Mts., Kaena Point Preserved_Specimen Cowan, R.S. 730 Oahu BISH 1947-11-11
76 Cuscuta sandwichiana Miki Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 228 Lanai BISH 1913-11-14
77 Cuscuta sandwichiana Ewa Beach Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 173 Oahu BISH 1982-02-24
78 Cuscuta sandwichiana Mouth of Halawa Valley Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13409 Molokai BISH 1936-12-25
79 Cuscuta sandwichiana Hauula Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2373 Oahu BISH 1916-06-01
80 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kahului Harbor on windblown halotypic plain near the ocean Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2426 Maui BISH 1985-08-09
81 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kawaihapai, near coast Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2072 Oahu BISH 1925-12-01
82 Cuscuta sandwichiana Popoia, small island near Kailua Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Oahu BISH 1915-11-01
83 Cuscuta sandwichiana On side of Diamond Head Crater Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1363 Oahu BISH 1930-05-11
84 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kalue. Seacoast, below Kaone Preserved_Specimen Fagerlund, G.O. 651 Hawaii BISH 1943-06-15
85 Cuscuta sandwichiana Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. Oahu BISH 1961-09-01
86 Cuscuta sandwichiana Goat Island Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1936-07-26
87 Cuscuta sandwichiana East of Moomomi on raised limestone plateau near the sea Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2425 Molokai BISH 1985-08-09
88 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaimuki Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1939 Oahu BISH 1914-04-01
89 Cuscuta sandwichiana Beach east of Barber's Point Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 29523 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
90 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kaohikaipu Islet, Makapuu Point Preserved_Specimen Lamoureux, C.H. 4082 Oahu BISH 1967-08-10
91 Cuscuta sandwichiana Honolulu waterfront Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.H. Oahu BISH 1933-03-27
92 Cuscuta sandwichiana Kau, near South Point. Wayside plants around site of old Waiahukini Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Hawaii BISH 1954-05-23
93 Cuscuta sandwichiana unknown Preserved_Specimen Livermore, K. BISH 1933-06-01
94 Cuscuta sandwichiana unknown Preserved_Specimen BISH
95 Cuscuta sandwichiana On beach at Yokohama Bay, 100 m west of restrooms Preserved_Specimen Teraoka, W. 306 Oahu BISH 1980-06-23
96 Cuscuta sandwichiana unknown Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. BISH
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