Native Plants of Hawai‘i - Lysimachia mauritiana

Lysimachia mauritiana

Primulaceae or Primrose family

Synonyms: Lubinia lubinoides, Lubinia mauritiana, Lubinia spathulata, Lysimachia glaucophylla, Lysimachia lineariloba, Lysimachia lubinoides, Lysimachia spathulata

No Known Ancient Hawaiian Name (See Hawaiian Name below)

Ocean primrose, Spoonleaf yellow loosestrife

Natural Range & Environment

An indigenous species found on Niʻihau, Kauaʻi Hanakāpiʻai, Molokaʻi (Kaholaiki Bay, Kalawao, Waikolu and Wailau valleys), (Makamakaʻole) West Maui, East Maui (Hanawī) and Hawaiʻi Island (Hilo, Honopue, Niuliʻi). It is rare throughout its Hawaiian range and known to grow on coastal rocks, sea cliffs and gravel beaches in scattered locations from 2-9 m (6.5-ca. 30 ft) [Wagner et al. 1990].

Lysimachia does well in the home landscape growing among other native plants, such as pāʻūohiʻiaka.

Description

Lysimachia are small to medium-sized fleshy herbaceous plants. The leaves are alternate with toothed edges and spatulate (shaped like a spatula) to elliptic (widest at the middle). The bell-shaped flowers are white with a tinge of pink. Outside of the Hawaiian Islands, it has pink, lavender or purple flowers.

Growth Requirements

General

Lysimachia are easy to grow and maintain. But although they are not rare, they are rarely seen and basically comes down to availability of plants. It does not appear to be picky about the potting media, as long as it has good drainage material (e.g. cinder or crushed coral) in the mix, and yet retains some moisture.

It is a drought, wind and salt-tolerant plant, and does well in sun or partial sun.

Though this lysimachia is a perennial, it sometimes grows more like an annual and may need to be resown every 6 to 12 months. So it is best to collect seeds for future propagation. They will sometimes reseed on their own if the area is moist.

If grown in containers, an application of a balanced slow-release fertilizer with minor elements at planting time can be done, and if plants exceed six months, another application will be required. With sufficient watering, this species does well in clay, cement or hanging pots on a sunny lānai. Foliar feed monthly with kelp or fish emulsion, or a water-soluble fertilizer with a dilution of one-half to one-third of recommended strength.

Pests and Diseases

Plants are prone to attacks by ants, scale, mealy bugs, thrips and aphids. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for treatments.

Uses

Ancient Hawaiian

There are no known uses by ancient Hawaiians.

Modern

Rick Barboza (Hui Kū Maoli Ola) mentions that the flower clusters have been used in lei.

Special Features and Information

General

Lysimachia is in the Primrose family (Primulaceae) with nearly 1,000 species worldwide. Of the fourteen Lysimachia species in the Hawaiian Islands, L. mauritiana is the only indigenous species. Lysimachia mauritiana is also found in China, Taiwan, Japan, Bonin Islands, Korea, Philippines, East Africa, Mauritius, Réunion, Marianas Islands, New Caledonia, and the Loyalty Islands [Marr & Bohm 1997].

Hawaiian Name

There is no known ancient Hawaiian name. Lysimachia has been used for this species, but it appears to be a name without an ancient Hawaiian origin. So we have chosen to use Lysimachia on this website until an authentic name is known for this species. Lysimachia is also another name for the indigenous pōhinahina (Vitex rotundifolia).

Etymology

The generic name Lysimachia is derived from the Greek lysis, release from, and mache, strife. Tradition relates that when Lysimachus, King of Thrace in Asia Minor (306-281 BCE), was chased by a bull, he waved a plant of this genus to pacify the animal, thus releasing himself from strife (Lit., ending strife) [Gledhill 2008]. The common name for plants in this genus is loosestrife. The specific epithet mauritiana is derived from Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, which reflects the geographical origin of the species [Gledhill 2008].

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