General Information

Habitat Requirements

Schiedea kauaiensis typically grows in diverse mesic to wet Acacia koa (koa) – Metrosideros polymorpha (ohia) forest on steep slopes at elevations between 117 and 1,290 m (385 and 4,232 ft). Associated native plant species include Alphitonia ponderosa (kauila), Cryptocarya mannii (holio), Diospyros spp. (lama), Dodonaea viscosa (aalii), Euphorbia haeleeleana (akoko), Exocarpos luteolus (hulumoa), Leptocophylla tameiameiae (pukiawe), Microlepia strigosa (palapalai), Nestegis sandwicensis (olopua), Pisonia spp. (papala), Peucedanum sandwicense (makou), Psychotria spp. (kopiko), and Psydrax odorata (alahee).

Movement / Home Range

Historically, Schiedea kauaiensis occurred on the northwestern side of Kauai, from Papaa to Mahanaloa. Currently, Schiedea kauaiensis occurs in Limahuli Valley and Mahanauloa.

Reproductive Strategy

Fruit and flowers have been observed in July through September. In contrast to mesic-forest species, Schiedea occurring in dry areas produce abundant seedlings following winter rains, presumably because there are fewer nonnative herbivores in the drier sites. Its reproductive cycles, longevity, specific environmental requirements and limiting factors are unknown.

Other

Schiedea kauaiensis differs from S. nuttallii by having fewer flowers; open, sparsely to moderately inflorescence; and larger flowers and leaves. This species was first collected near Papaa on Kauai by Otto Degener and Amy Greenwell in 1952. Schiedea kauaiensis was previously described as a new species from Wahina-Manoa Ridge on Kauai by Harold St. John (1988). St. John (1988) also describes S. wichmanii as a separate species from the Limahuli Valley population. In the most recent treatment of the genus, Wagner et al. (2005b) recognized S. wichmanii as a synonym of S. kauaiensis, which they considered a new species. Other published names considered synonymous with S. kauaiensis include S. nuttallii var. paucalora and S. wichmanii.