26 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XV, January 1961 
red. Filament tips extend approximately 2 cm. 
from column. 
holotype: Kaholuamanoa above Waimea, 
900 m. September 2-9, 1895. A. A. Heller 2785 . 
( Isotype examined. ) 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Kauai: Waimea Can- 
yon, January 12, 1956, H. F. Clay. Mountains 
back of Waimea, September 1909, C. N. Forbes 
422. K. Waimea Drainage Basin, West side (hu- 
mid forest), July 3-August 18, 1917, C. N. 
Forbes 993. K. Halemanu February 20, 1909, 
Rock 39 (1559). Below Kaholuamano in gulches 
at 1800 feet, September 1909, Rock 5629. Octo- 
ber 1916, Rock 17093. Kokee region of Na 
Pali Kona Reserve, altitude of 3200 feet on 
bank of canyon, July 29, 1957, Roe 261. In cul- 
tivation at Kalaheo, altitude of 750 feet, July 
27, 1957, Roe 252. In cultivation at the Hibis- 
cus Gardens of Honolulu, July 2, 1958, Roe 290. 
This species, although closely related to H. 
Arnottianus and unfortunately confused with it, 
is very different in numerous distinct characters, 
such as petals, column, stamens, calyx, leaves, 
tree shape, pubescence, and texture. Hillebrand 
considered all Hawaiian white-flowered hibiscus 
to be H. Arnottianus, Heller studied the situa- 
tion and felt that the white-flowered plant from 
Kauai was distinct and unnamed. He published 
its description in T897. In 1900, Hochreutiner 
reopened the case of H. Arnottianus. (A thor- 
ough discussion of this situation will be found 
in my treatment of H. Arnottianus.) To the 
large Oahu white, Hochreutiner attached the 
name of H. waimeae (Heller) var. Hookeri 
Hochr., and to the real H. waimeae of Heller 
he gave the name H. waimeae var. Helleri 
Hochr. Hochreutiner gave the name H. Arnott- 
ianus to what is known today as H. Kokio Hbd., 
thus establishing two varieties. T. A. Sprague 
in 1914 also added to the confusion. He sug- 
gested the name H. Arnottianus be dropped com- 
pletely and replaced by H. waimeae. Skottsberg 
in 1926 concluded that the treatment given by 
Hochreutiner and Sprague is ". . . inadmissible 
and has resulted in a more and more hopeless 
confusion....” He continued, "...to replace 
'Arnottianus’ with 'Waimeae’ Heller, to dis- 
tinguish two varieties of this and to call Heller’s 
type var. Helleri is wrong for the simple reason 
FIG. 20. Hibiscus waimeae Heller. 
that 'Arnottianus’ Hillebrand and 'waimeae’ are 
different species.” 
The major differences between H. Arnottianus 
and H. waimeae are these: H. Arnottianus is 
nearly glabrous throughout, while H. waimeae 
has a velvety pubescence. The petioles of the 
Kauai species are almost twice as long as those 
of the Oahu plant; their calyces are also longer 
and wider. The calyx cleft of H. Arnottianus is 
only 5 mm. deep and that of H. waimeae is 
1-1.5 cm. deep. The staminal column of H. 
ivaimeae is stouter than that of the Oahu species. 
13. Hibiscus Arnottianus Gray 
Figs. 21-23 
Hibiscus Arnottianus Gray. Bot. U. S. Expl. 
Exped. 1: 176. 1854. 
H. Boryanus H. & A. Bot. Beechey Voy., p. 
79, partim, non DC. 1832. 
H. Waimeae var. Hookeri Hochreutiner. 
Ann. Conserv. Jard. Bot. Geneve, 4: 132. 
1900 . 
H. Fauriei Leveil. Fedde Repert. 10: 120. 
1911. 
description: Tree growing to 35 ft., well 
branched, nearly glabrous. Stipules subulate, ca- 
ducous. Petioles 0. 5-2.0 cm. long, glabrous. 
Blades 8-10 cm. long, 5-7 cm. wide, ovate to 
elliptical-parabolical, apex acute-acuminate, 
chartaceous, margin sinuately crenate to entire, 
