NA

Schiedea sarmentosa, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), is a many-branched shrub 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) tall. The opposite leaves are slender and threadlike, 1.5 to 4.5 cm (0.6 to 1.8 in) long, and 0.5 to 1.5 mm (0.01 to 0.05 in) wide. The leaves are covered with dense, glandular hairs. There may be as many as 40 to 60 inflorescences on one plant, often with 50 to 100 flowers in each inflorescence. The flowers are female on some plants and bisexual on others. The green sepals are egg-shaped, 2 to 3 mm (0.07 to 0.12 in) long, and somewhat hairy. The staminodes (false stamens) are half as long as the sepals and two-branched at the tip. The fruits are oval capsules. This species differs from others in this endemic Hawaiian genus by its densely bushy habit, leaf width, hairiness, and staminode length.

The species historical range included Hawaii. See below for information about where the species is known or believed to occur.

Habitat Requirements

Schiedea sarmentosa is typically found on steep or gentle to moderate slopes in Metrosideros polymorpha (ohia)- Dodonaea viscosa (aalii) lowland dry or mesic shrubland, or dry to mesic forest dominated by Metrosideros polymorpha and/or Diospyros sandwicensis, at elevations between 610 and 790 m (2,000 and 2,600 ft) elevation. Associated native species include Alyxia stellata (maile), Antidesma platyphyllum (hame), Bidens menziesii (kookoolau), Bobea sp. (ahakea), Carex meyenii (no common name [NCN]), Euphorbia celastroides var. amplectens (akoko), Chenopodium oahuense (aheahea), Cocculus orbiculatus (huehue), Coprosma sp. (pilo), Cyperus faurei (NCN), Diospyros sandwicensis (lama), Dubautia linearis (naenae), Eragrostis variabilis (kawelu), Lepidium bidentatum (anaunau), Lipochaeta rockii (nehe), Luzula hawaiiensis (wood rush), Lysimachia sp. (NCN), Melicope hawaiensis (mokihana kukae moa), Myoporum sandwicense (naio), Myrsine lanaiensis (kolea), Neraudia sericea (NCN), Nestegis sandwicensis (olopua), Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (ulei), Panicum spp. (NCN), Pipturus sp. (mamake), Pittosporum argentifolium (hoawa), Pleomele auwahiensis (hala pepe), Psychotria sp. (kopiko), Pteridium aquilinum var. decompositum.(kilau), Scaevola sp. (naupaka), Schiedea lydgatei (NCN), Sicyos waimanaloensis (anunu), Sida fallax (ilima), Silene alexandri (NCN), S. lanceolata (NCN), Sophora chrysophylla (mamane), Spermolepis hawaiiensis (NCN), Streblus pendulinus (ai ai), Urera glabra (opuhe), Vaccinium sp. (ohelo), Viola chamissoniana (pamakani), and Wikstroemia spp. (akia).

Food Habits

Movement / Home Range

Historically, Schiedea sarmentosa occurred at Kawela Gulch, Makolelau, and Onini Gulch on Molokai. It currently occurs at Kawela Gulch on Molokai.

Reproductive Strategy

Little is known about its flowering cycles, pollination vectors, seed dispersal agents, longevity, specific environmental requirements, and limiting factors.

Other

In 1928, Otto Degener collected a plant on Molokai that E.E. Sherff (1946) later named Schiedea sarmentosa. Schiedea sarmentosa was included in Schiedea menziesii by Wagner et al. (1990). Warren Wagner and Stephen Weller, who are preparing a monograph of the genus, now consider S. sarmentosa to be a separate species.