Trematolobelia

Trematolobelia is a genus of about five species, all endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Most of these are rare or very rare and may occur on only one Island. They are shrubs closely related to true Lobelia species, which also occur in Hawaii, and they have spectacular lipped tubular flowers, usually pink or red in color. The seed dispersal mechanism is interesting, involving a capsule with pores through which the small seeds are shaken when the plant blows in the wind, sometimes likened to dispersal from a shaken pepper-pot. Trematolobelias typically flower once and then that plant dies but may be replaced by nearby plants. Most but not all species have branching, candelabra-like inflorescences on top of tall stems, and the are amongst the most charismatic of Hawaii's native plants. They occur in moist to wet forest.