Clermontia peleana Rock

Genus: Clermontia sect. Clermontioideae.

Etymology: Named for Pele, the goddess that lives in the fires of Kilauea, where the first big island specimen of this species was found by Rock.

Range: Maui, east; Hawai'i, windward Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, wet forest, 530-1,150 m.

Status: Exrememly rare.

Growth form: Shrub, 1.5-6 m tall.

This species ...

The rounded crown seen growing on this tall 'ōhi'a tree is Cl. peleana. Image from Rock (1919).

Description In habit, this rare shrub, when found, was usually growing epiphytically on 'ōhi'a trees. It has a symmetrical form, long rambling branches and is glabrous throughout.

Images:

Sources:

• Hillebrand, 1888; (as Clermontia gaudichaudii var. beta);
• Rock, 1913;
• Rock, 1913 (as Clermontia gaudichaudii var. singuliflora);
• Rock, 1919;
• Rock, 1919 (as Clermontia gaudichaudii var. barbata, note Rock's Cl. gaudichaudii is Cl. fauriei);
• Rock, 1919 (as Clermontia singuliflora);
• Wimmer, 1943 (as Clermontia clermontioides var. singuliflora);
• Wimmer, 1943;
• Degener, 1960;
• Wagner et al., 1990.