Delissea rhytidosperma H. Mann

Genus: Delissea section Rhytidospermae (shrubby with small flowers).

Status: Endanged. Considered extinct in the wild, there is one outplanting (Erwin & Young, 2010) and individuals are cultivated at NTBG and Ohio State.

Etymology: Ancient Greek ρυτιδος (rhytidos) for wrinkled and σπερμα (sperma) ancient Greek for seed - in reference to the wrinkled seeds which are found in all Delissea.

Range: Kaua'i, mesic forests, 300-1,000 m.

Growth form: Shrubs, 0.5-2.5 m tall.

Mann (1868) described this species as arborescent. Then a few years later, Wawra (1873) described D. kealiae, now considered a synonym, and noted the shrub habit of D. kealiae among the differences with D. rhytidosperma.

Description: Up to 2.5 m tall, the primary stem produces a few ascending branches which do not themselves branch with leaves scattered along the upper portion.

Sources:

• Mann, 1868;
• Wawra, 1873 (as Delissea kealiae);
• Hillebrand, 1888;
• Heller, 1897;
• Rock, 1919;
• Wimmer, 1943;
• Wagner et al., 1990;
• Lammers, 2005.