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Plant Profile

Dwarf Naupaka (Scaevola coriacea)

This shot shows the succulent leaves of this plant, and a flower. Photo Credit: Dr. Gerald Carr

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Goodeniaceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 128200
Lifeform: Subshrub, Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987

Description:

Scaevola coriacea is a low, flat-lying perennial herb in the goodenia family (Goodeniaceae). Its older stems are somewhat woody, and the leaves are relatively far apart, giving the plant a sparse appearance. The succulent leaves of this plant are oval- to spoon shaped and are smooth or somewhat scaly with rounded tips. The flowers occur in branched clusters from the point of leaf attachment in groups of one to three "half-flower" looking yellowish green, lobed flowers. Scaevola coriacea was historically found on 6 of the Hawaiian Islands but now only exists on Maui and two offshore islets with less than 300 individuals. Probably never very common, this species was listed as endangered in 1986.

Where is Dwarf Naupaka (Scaevola coriacea) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Scaevola coriacea usually occurs in relatively hot dry coastal sites on low, consolidated sand dunes near sea level (USFWS 1997) and (Wagner et al. 1999).

Distribution:

Maui and two offshore islets- Waiehu Pt., Kaupo, Mokeehia Islet, and Mokuhooniki Islet (USFWS 1997).

States & Provinces:

Dwarf Naupaka can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Dwarf Naupaka (Scaevola coriacea)?

Waimea Arboretum Foundation

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

National Tropical Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Assigned 07/24/23

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

G1S1.2 This species has been recorded from the islands of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii. It is currently known only from Maui. Only about plants remain. Most of the remaining plants are in the suburbs of a major urban center on Maui. Portions of this population have been recently destroyed by development. Competition with alien plants also poses a threat.

David Orr

01/01/2010

Development/subdivision encroachment. Human traffic. Small population size. Alien plants. Domestic cattle. (USFWS 1997, 2001)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Waiehu Pt.-1 population, less than 300 plants. Kaupo- 1 population, 20 plants. Mokeehia Islet, 15 plants. Mokuhooniki Islet, 4-5 plants. (USFWS 1997) and (Wagner et al. 1999)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Propagation by seed (USFWS 1997).

David Orr

01/01/2010

Mokeehia and Mokuhooniki Islets are State bird sanctuaries; thus, the populations on those islets are protected. Presently cultivated at numerous sites in Hawai`i. (USFWS 1997).

David Orr

01/01/2010

Weed control. Protection of existing wild populations from land development. Exclosures to protect from feral and wild ungulates. Outplanting. (USFWS 1997).

David Orr

01/01/2010

Propagation. Genetic studies. Physiological studies. Seed banking and germplasm preservation. (USFWS 1997).