Clermontia arborescens (H. Mann) Hillebr.

Genus: Clermontia section Clermontioideae, i.e. sepaloid sepals.

Range: Maui, Molokai, Lāna'i; mesic to wet forest; 520-1,825m.

Growth form: Tree, 1.5-8 m tall.

This species is suspected to be closely related to Cl. tuberculata, except Cl. arborescens is unarmed and has a much wider distribution. Cl. tuberculata is sympatric with the armed Cyanea aculeatiflora which leads to two hypotheses: 1) there is hybridization and / or 2) their is a strong selective force to develop thorns on the windward slope of Haleakalā.

How to identify:

Images:

Sources:

• Mann, 1868 (as Cyanea arborescens);
• Wawra, 1873 (as Delissea waihiae);
• Hillebrand, 1888;
• Rock, 1913;
• Rock, 1919;
• Wimmer, 1943;
• Wimmer, 1953;
• Degener, 1956 (as Clermontia furcata);
• Degener, 1960;
• Wimmer, 1968;
• Wagner et al., 1990.