Sesbania tomentosa
| Sesbania tomentosa | |
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| File:Sesbania tomentosa.jpg | |
| Sesbania tomentosa | |
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| Species: | S. tomentosa
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| Sesbania tomentosa | |
Sesbania tomentosa or ‘ohai is an endangered species of Sesbania endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands and Nihoa and Necker Island. Off-road vehicles, fires, grazing, and alien species competition have destroyed their habitat on the main islands, but they are still quite common on Nihoa and Necker. At least 2000 specimens grow on Nihoa, while Necker doesn't have nearly as many.
‘Ohai grows from sea level to elevations of 2700 feet. Over its wide range of habitats, it exhibits a broad variation of color and shape. Plants that grow on Nihoa have reddish-orange flowers and young leaflets that are relatively hairless. Necker plants have salmon to orange colored-flowers, and leaflets that are very hairy. On Molokai, there is even a form that grows as a standing tree.
There is a prostrate form from Ka Lae (South Point) on the island of Hawai`i that has smooth leaves almost devoid of tomentum with a semi glaucous sheen.
References
- N. Evenhuis and L. Eldredge, Natural History of Nihoa and Necker Islands, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, 2004.