A tiny trigger plant, discovered and described by Rica Erickson in the 1950's. It wasn't seen again until 2007. I took a photo last year and we have been searching for this elusive plant this October with some success. It grows to 8cm. This photo shows three stages of the plant. Top photo as it is about to flower, middle flower has flowered and closed and the bottom photo is fully in flower.Photo: Fred
Naupaka kuahiwi or Ridgetop naupaka GoodeniaceaeEndemic to the Hawaiian IslandsSeeds for this plant originally come from the northern Waianae Mountains, OahuOahu (Cultivated)Early Hawaiians used the fruits of naupaka kuahiwi to produce a purplish black dye.EtymologyThe generic name Scaevola is derived from the Greek scaevus, left-handed or awkward, perhaps in reference to the "awkward" appearance of the "half flower."The specific epithet gaudichaudii is named after the French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupr (1789-1854) who made several contributions to the knowledge of Hawaiian flora during his voyages to the islands.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Scaevola_gaudichaudii