The Hawaiian plant genus Schiedea is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and currently consists of 33 species.  The genus was named in honor of Christian J. Schiede (1798-1836), a German-born physician who collected in Mexico (Wagner et al. 1990).  Nearly all of the species occur in small populations and most are federally listed as endangered.  Some species that were once thought to be extinct have been recently rediscovered by collectors working for the National Tropical Botanical Garden (e.g., S. helleri ).  New species have also been described following their discovery in remote locations (e.g., S. attenuata, S. jacobii). 

Schiedea and Alsinidendron are both derived from a single ancestor and represent a classic example of an adaptive radiation in the Hawaiian Islands.  This group is also interesting because of its diversity of plant breeding systems and habitats.  Species may be either hermaphroditic, gynodioecious (hermaphroditic and female plants), dioecious (male and female plants), or subdioecious (hermaphroditic, male, and female plants).  Information concerning each species can be found in the following table:

Species

Breeding System

Habitat

Distribution

Author

A. lychnoides

h

wf

K (Alaka`i Swamp from Keaku Cave and Kahôluamanu to Pihea)

(Hillebr.) Sherff

A. obovatum

h

dmf

O (Wai`anae Mtns)

Sherff

A. trinerve

h

wf

O (north Wa: Mt Ka`ala from Pu`ukalena; Pu`ukawiwi; and Mâkaha Valley)

H. Mann

A. viscosum

h

dmf, wf

K (Waimea; Nâwaimaka, Wai`alae; Kahôluamanu; west of Alaka`i Swamp)

(H. Mann) Sherff

S. adamantis

g

ds

O (Diamond Head)

St. John

S. amplexicaulis

h

?

K (extinct)

H. Mann

S. apokremnos

g

dc

K (Nu`alolo Kai; Miloli`i; and Kalalau valleys; Nâpali Coast)

St. John

S. attenuata

h

dmf (cliffs)

K (Kalalau Valley)

W. L. Wagner, Weller & Sakai

S. diffusa subsp. diffusa

h

wf

Mo (Kawela to Waikolu valleys)/ M

A. Gray

S. diffusa subsp. macraei

h

wf

H (Kohala Mts; `Ola`a Tract, Hawai`i Volcanoes NP)

A. Gray, (Sherff) W. L. Wagner & Weller (ined.)

S. globosa

s

dc

O (southeast)/ Mo (north and northwest coasts)/ M (East and West)/ H (Kohala coast)

H. Mann

S. haleakalensis

d

dc

EM (Kaupô Gap; Hôlua near Ko`olau Gap)

Degener & Sherff

S. haupuensis

h

dmf

K (Hâ`upu)

W. L. Wagner & Weller (ined.)

S. hawaiiensis

h

df

H (Pôhakuloa, one individual)

Hillebr.

S. helleri

h

wf (cliffs)

K (Kahôluamanu, Môhihi Stream; Wai`alae Valley)

Sherff

S. hookeri

h

dmf

O (north and central Wa)/ EM? (Makawao, ex)

A. Gray

S. implexa

h

mf?

EM (Auwahi and Kaupô Gap) (extinct)

(Hillebr.) Sherff

S. jacobii

h

wf

EM (Hânawi)

W. L. Wagner, Weller & Medeiros

S. kaalae

h

dmf, wf

O (Wai`anae Mtns: Makaleha; Pahole Gulch; Mokulê`ia; Pu`uhâpapa; Huliwai. Ko`olau Mtns: Punalu`u; Kaipapa`u)

Wawra

S. kauaiensis

h

dmf

K (northern and central)

St. John

S. kealiae

s

df

O (north Wa)

Caum & Hosaka

S. ligustrina

d

ds

O (Wa: Pâlehua; Pu`ukaua; Keawapilau Gulch; Mokulê`ia)

Cham. & Schlechtend.

S. lydgatei

h

ds

Mo (Kamalô; Makakupa`ia; and Popohua gulches; O`oa)

Hillebr.

S. mannii

s

dmf (dry)

O (Wai`anae Mtns: Pu`uhapapa; Pu`ukawiwi; Mâkua Valley; Mâkua-Kea`au Ridge; Kamaile`unu Ridge)

St. John

S. membranacea

h

dmf

K (Mahanaloa and Ku`ia valleys; Kalalau rim; other sites)

St. John

S. menziesii

h

ds

L (Maunalei Valley)/ WM (Mâ`alaea; Lahaina Luna Gulch)

Hook.

S. nuttallii

h

dmf

O (Wai`anae Mtns: `Ekahanui Gulch to Mokulê`ia)/ Mo (western end, Kamalô, Kala`e)/ WM

Hook.

S. pentamera

h

dmf

O (Wai`anae Mtns: Maunakapu to Mt. Ka`ala)

W. L. Wagner & E. Harris

S. pubescens

h

dmf

Mo (Pelekunu to Kala`e)/ L (Lâna`ihale, ex)/ M (Makawao; Hâmâkua; Olowalu Valley; Kâ`anapali)

Hillebr.

S. salicaria

g

ds

WM (Waikapû; Kaunohua; Mâ`alaea; Olowalu; Lahaina)

Hillebr.

S. sarmentosa

g

df, ds

Mo (below Pu`ukolekole; `Onini, Kamalô, Kawela gulches)

Degener & Sherff

S. spergulina

d

ds (cliffs)

K (Hanapêpê; Lâwai Valley; Wahiawa; Olokele and Waimea canyons)

A. Gray

S. stellarioides

h

dmf

K (Waimea; Wai`alae; `Opaewela; Kahôluamanu; Hâ`upu Ridge; Hanakâpî`ai)

H. Mann

S. verticillata

h

ds

N (West Palm Valley; Devil's Slide)

F. Brown

    Breeding System:  d = dioecious
                                g = gynodioecious
                                h = hermaphroditic
                                s = subdioecious

    Habitat:  dc = dry cliffs
                 df = dry forest
                 dmf = diverse mesic forest
                 ds = dry shrubland
                 mf = mesic forest
                 wf = wet forest

    Islands:   EM = East Maui
                   H = Hawaii
                   K = Kaua'i
                   L = Lana'i
                   M = Maui
                   Mo = Moloka'i
                   N = Nihoa
                   O = O'ahu
                   WM = West Maui

    NOTE: Further information can be found in the Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawai'i by W. L. Wagner, D.R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer (1999 - University of Hawaii Press).