Naupaka kuahiwi or Ridgetop naupaka GoodeniaceaeEndemic to the Hawaiian IslandsSeeds for this plant originally come from the northern Waianae Mountains, OahuOahu (Cultivated)Early Hawaiians used the fruits of naupaka kuahiwi to produce a purplish black dye.EtymologyThe generic name Scaevola is derived from the Greek scaevus, left-handed or awkward, perhaps in reference to the "awkward" appearance of the "half flower."The specific epithet gaudichaudii is named after the French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupr (1789-1854) who made several contributions to the knowledge of Hawaiian flora during his voyages to the islands.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Scaevola_gaudichaudii
This beautiful Trigger plant is just starting to flower in the forest at the moment standing at 3cm. The flower is 2cm long, the trigger on this flower is very short and can be seen between the top petals. Stylidium plants have an irritable "trigger" which moves open and below the flower until an insect lands on the petals. The "trigger" moves over and pats pollen onto the back of the insect. The insect flies onto another plant, gets another pat on the back, thus pollinating the plants. The trigger resets itself after each insect visit.Website explaining trigger plant dynamics