Clermontia tuberculata C.N.Forbes

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

Range: East Maui; wet forest streambeds; 1,650-1,825 m.

Growth form: Tree, 4-5 m tall.

This species is suspected to be closely related to Cl. arborescens, the difference being that Cl. tuberculata is covered in tubercules and has a much narrower range, being found only on the windward slope of Haleakalā. It has been noted that Cyanea aculeatiflora has the same range which leads to the suspicion that there is hybridization or a strong selective force in that region to develop armament.

How to identify:

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Sources:

• Forbes, 1911;
• Rock, 1913;
• Rock, 1919;
• Wimmer, 1943;
• Degener, 1960;
• Wimmer, 1968;
• Wagner et al., 1990.