Sesbania tomentosa Hook. & Arn.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and endangered. The only wild populations left on the Big Island are on the remote SE coast in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with one population on State land at South Point. Elevation around 2m/6-7ft. Note Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprea) also growing with the Ohai.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and endangered. The only wild populations left on the Big Island are on the remote SE coast, mostly in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with one population on State land at South Point. Elevation around 2m/6-7ft. Ohai is in the foreground with mostly Naupaka kahakai (Scaevola sericea) in background and a few Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae). This is the only endemic plant in the Fabaceae family in the Hawaiian Islands.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and endangered. The only wild populations left on the Big Island are on the remote SE coast in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with one population on State land at South Point. Elevation around 2m/6-7ft. The trunk of this sprawling shrub/vine was in a crack in the lava flow. This plant is within 50m of the shorebreak and is hot, dry and receives ocean spray.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and endangered. Note seed pods. Elevation around 275ft/84m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and endangered. Note seed pods. Elevation around 275ft/84m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands. Formerly widespread on all of the main Hawaiian islands, but now restricted to a few populations 0-830m. Plant is now Endangered. Elevation of plants in these photos is around 5-8m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands. Formerly widespread on all of the main Hawaiian islands, but now restricted to a few populations 0-830m. Plant is now Endangered. Elevation of plants in these photos is around 5-8m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands. Formerly widespread on all of the main Hawaiian islands, but now restricted to a few populations 0-830m. Plant is now Endangered. Elevation of plants in these photos is around 5-8m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands. Formerly widespread on all of the main Hawaiian islands, but now restricted to a few populations 0-830m. Plant is now Endangered. Elevation of plants in these photos is around 5-8m. Note silky hair on leaves.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. Of the few remaining wild populations left on the Big Island of Hawaii, all but one are in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The population in these photos is the only one which is not close to sea level. This is the highest population on the Big Island and possibly anywhere with an elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. Of the few remaining wild populations left on the Big Island of Hawaii, all but one are in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The population in these photos is the only one which is not close to sea level. This is the highest population on the Big Island and possibly anywhere with an elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. Of the few remaining wild populations left on the Big Island of Hawaii, all but one are in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The population in these photos is the only one which is not close to sea level. This is the highest population on the Big Island and possibly anywhere with an elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. Of the few remaining wild populations left on the Big Island of Hawaii, all but one are in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The population in these photos is the only one which is not close to sea level. This is the highest population on the Big Island and possibly anywhere with an elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. This species has been shown to exhibit considerable morphological variation in habit, size, color, and pubescence. (see photos of captive S. tomentosa plants in CalPhotos). Elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. This species has been shown to exhibit considerable morphological variation in habit, size, color, and pubescence. (see photos of captive S. tomentosa plants in CalPhotos). Elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. S. tomentosa is in foreground. Photo shows some associated species which include: Ulei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia), Pukiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae), Aalii (Dodonaea viscosa), and Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla). A forest fire burned through this area in the 1970's (lava ignited?) and fallen Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) snags are still widespread. Elevation around 2900 ft./880m.

Endemic to Hawaiian Islands and now endangered. S. tomentosa is in foreground. Photo shows some associated species which include: Ulei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia), Pukiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae), Aalii (Dodonaea viscosa), and Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla). A forest fire burned through this area in the 1970's (lava ignited?) and fallen Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) snags are still widespread. Elevation around 2900 ft./880m.