4 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XV, January 1961 
rina Francis of Maryknoll High School. 
All herbarium specimens mentioned in this 
paper are deposited at the Bernice P. Bishop 
Museum in Honolulu, unless otherwise stated. 
HISTORY OF THE GENUS Hibiscus 
IN HAWAII 
The history of the indigenous Hawaiian Hi- 
biscus dates back to Gaudichaud’s Hibiscus 
Youngianus, which was collected on the Frey- 
cinet Expedition, 1819. He mentioned it ( 1826) 
but failed to add any details; hence it was a 
nomen nudum as published, until Hooker and 
Arnott furnished the description (1832). Gray 
(1854) described both H. Brackenridgei and 
H. Arnottianus. In 1888 Hillebrand added H. 
Kokio to the three published species. This was 
followed closely by Heller’s description (1897) 
of the Kauai white H. waimeae. Hochreutiner 
(1900) included all members in the genus 
known in all parts of the world. The Hawaiian 
populations received treatment by him. Forbes 
(1912) found and named an endemic Kauai 
.species, H. kahilii, which is still considered rare. 
From 1912 to 1930 little was done in the way 
of publication until Caum presented Rock’s H. 
Brackenridgei var. molokaiana; a variety of his 
own, H. Brackenridgei var. kauaiana; and a 
variety to H. Kokio var. pukoonis. Skottsberg, 
on his Hawaiian Bog Survey assignment, found 
and described a variety and a form of H. Ar- 
nottianus. From that time, 1944 to 1957, no 
new groups were established. Degener (1957) 
recently raised Skottsberg’s var. punaluuensis of 
H. Arnottianus to the level of a species, H. 
punaluuensis. 
At present we recognize 15 populations of 
Hibiscus as indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands 
— 9 species, 5 varieties, and 1 form. 
DESCRIPTION OF GENERIC CHARACTERS 
The genus Hibiscus is a large taxon whose 
species, hundreds in number, are restricted to 
the warmer regions of the world. It is polymor- 
phic, including species that are herbaceous, 
shrubby, or arborescent, some of the latter at- 
taining heights of 30 ft. or more. 
Linnaeus (1754) listed Hibiscus under genus 
no. 75 6 and gave the fundamental description 
of this taxon. His original characters included 
double perianth; bracts 8 or more in number; 
calyx cup-shaped; 5 heart-shaped petals united 
at base; numerous filaments joined to column; 
anthers reniform; 5 -celled ovary; divided stigma; 
reniform seeds. 
Since this original description of Linnaeus, 
we have broadened our knowledge of the genus. 
It can be summarized in the following manner. 
Involucre consists of several free bracts. Calyx 
5-lobed or toothed, persists with fruit. Flowers 
borne singly in axils, composed of 5 petals which 
are frequently wider toward their apices, nar- 
rowing towards base, where they usually unite 
with column. Flowers commonly large, showy, 
and of conspicuous colors. Staminal column com- 
posed of filaments which are united into hollow 
sheath for some distance from base; 5 -toothed 
at apex. Filaments extend out from column at 
various positions, usually close to stigma. Style 
runs through column and terminates in 5 
branches, each of which has a terminal discoid 
stigma. Five carpels, each containing several 
ovules, united into a 5 -celled ovary. Capsule 
opens loculicidally. Seeds vary in shape from 
reniform to globose, with surfaces from glabrous 
to tomentose. Leaves variously lobed or entire, 
alternate, stipulate, and scarcely to distinctly 
palmately veined. 
The genus Hibiscus seems closely related to 
the genera Paritium and Abutilon. Paritium is 
allied to Hibiscus inasmuch as both genera have 
involucrate calyces which are 5-lobed; also 5- 
style branches with capitate stigmas. The in- 
volucral bracts of Paritium , however, are united, 
whereas those of Hibiscus are free. 
Abutilon and Hibiscus both have carpels with 
2 or more ovules. Abutilon species do not have 
involucral bracts but have staminal columns 
ending in filaments. 
In distinguishing the various taxa under con- 
sideration, the following characters were most 
valuable: bract number (5-10), calyx length 
( 1. 0-3.0 cm.), and venation of calyx and leaves. 
Staminal column lengths (2.0-19.0 cm.), ves- 
ture, petal shapes, position of filament exten- 
sion from column, and seeds are also important 
differentiating characters. 
