| Cuscuta sandwichiana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Cuscuta |
| Species: | C. sandwichiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cuscuta sandwichiana | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Grammica sandwichiana (Choisy) O.Deg., I.Deg., Hadac & Chrtek | |
Cuscuta sandwichiana (Kauna'oa kahakai) is a parasitic vine and the only member of the genus Cuscuta that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.[1] It parasitizes a wide variety of indigenous, endemic and introduced plants on all of the main Hawaiian islands. It grows in coastal areas with sandy soils from sea level elevation to 975 feet.[2][3] The indigenous kaunaʻoa pehu (literally "swollen kaunaʻoa") Cassytha filiformis is a similar-looking species with the same parasitic nature. It is an unrelated plant in the Laurel family Lauraceae which can be distinguished by it larger, coarser yellowish-green stems.[4]
- ^ Bohm, Bruce A. "Flowering Plants of Hawaii". Floridata Plant Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ Wagner, Warren L. (1990). Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i (Bishop Museum Special Publication 83 ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press / Bishop Museum Press. pp. 582–583.
- ^ "Cuscuta sandwichiana". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "Cuscuta sandwichiana". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2015.