Nototrichium divaricatum | |
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Nototrichium divaricatum growing in Limahuli Garden and Preserve | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Nototrichium |
Species: | N. divaricatum |
Binomial name | |
Nototrichium divaricatum Lorence |
Nototrichium divaricatum, also known as Na Pali rockwort or kuluʻī (Hawaiian), is a rare perennial shrub in the pigweed family, Amaranthaceae, that is endemic to the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. It can be found in the northwestern part of the island in dry to moist shrublands, where it grows on north-facing cliffs and ridges.
N. divaricatum are densely branching shrubs 0.3–2 meters tall, with most parts covered with silvery-white hairs. Leaves are oppositely arranged, with leaf blades 3-7.5 cm long and 1-4.6 cm wide. Inflorescences bear several spikes, and are terminal and usually solitary, rarely 2 or 3 together, and compoundly branched. Each spike bears 8-30 small flowers.
This species was first described in 1996. There are possibly fewer than 3,000 N. divaricatum plants in existence.