In the Garden
Oahu Daisy
HUI KU MAOLI OLA
Latin name: Tetramalopium filiforme The main threat for the survival of this plant in the wild is the degradation of its habitat due to erosion of ground from goats overgrazing. Goats devour this plant as they do most of our native plant species.Description: Cute, dwarflike shrub, very compact in form (up to 8 inches), with soft, green, featherlike leaves.
It has small, purple daisy flowers that stand erect above the plant and dance when the wind blows. The seeds of this plant form such as the ones of dandelions and are carried away by the wind.
As far as I know, there is no documentation for the Hawaiian name of this particular plant species, hence the name Oahu daisy.
Other species of this same genus are called pamakani, meaning "to blow in the wind," which matches the description of this species perfectly.
Distribution: This endangered species is only found on the dry, windswept ridges of Ohikilolo and Keaau Valley in the Waianae Mountains of Oahu.
Landscape use and care: Tetramalopium look great planted around the base of stones or as low accents around other plants. They also do fine in pots for on the lanai or near a sunny window. These plants are naturally found in fairly dry areas, therefore require very little watering to survive. Too much watering could eventually cause the roots to rot. Full sun is the best for these plants to thrive.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a native Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. "In the Garden" is a Friday feature about flora written by field experts.
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