Family: APOCYNACEAE
Genus: Rauvolfia
Species: sandwicensis
Species Author: A. DC.
Vernacular: Hao, Devil's-pepper
Synonyms: Excavatia sandwicensis, Ochrosia sandwicensis, Rauvolfia degeneri, Rauvolfia forbesii, Rauvolfia helleri, Rauvolfia mauiensis, Rauvolfia molokaiensis, Rauvolfia molokaiensis var. parvifolia, Rauvolfia remotiflora, Rauvolfia sandwicensis var. subacuminata
R. sanwicensis is a tree or shrub 3-10 meters tall. Elliptic leaves are 6-22 cm long, with 3 to 5 emerging from the same node, leaving obvious leaf when they drop off. Inflorescences grow in clusters. Flowers have a very narrow tube 3-10 mm long, with pale green lobes. The fruit is a bilobed drupe, purplish black at maturity, 8-16 mm wide x 6-20 mm long. If leaves or stems of R. sanwicensis are broken, a white latex leaks out of the plant that is diagnostic of this family.
WAGNER, W. L., D. R. HERBST, AND S. H. SOHMER. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Bishop Museum Press Honolulu, HI.
The root contains small amounts of reserpine, used to treat high blood pressure and mental illness, but different related species from Africa and India are the ones commercially harvested.
WAGNER, W. L., D. R. HERBST, AND S. H. SOHMER. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Bishop Museum Press Honolulu, HI.
Other species of Rauvolfia are know to be poisonous. Eating this one would probably not be a good idea.
Rauvolfia sandwicensis is endemic to Hawaii and found on all of the main islands. Typically found on wet ridges and gulches, it can also be found at lower elevations on slopes and lava flows.
WAGNER, W. L., D. R. HERBST, AND S. H. SOHMER. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. Bishop Museum Press Honolulu, HI.
Hao is often found at heiau (Hawaiian religious sites), so is thought by some to have religious significance.
(LAMB, S. H. 1981. Native Trees & Shrubs of the Hawaiian Islands. Sunstone Press.)
Although this plant is fairly scarce, it is not currently listed as an endanged species. The US Fish and Wildlife service is outplanting individuals on Maui asa conservation measure.
We currently have 52 herbarium specimens for Rauvolfia sandwicensis in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
- 045028 - collected by H. A. Woolford in Unknown
- 001538 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1971
- 001548 - collected by Colin G. Lennox in 1975
- 001547 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1979
- 001545 - collected by Moses Bergau in 1981
- 001542 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
- 001541 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
- 031424 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
- 031425 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
- 031426 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
- 013883 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
- 036177 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
- 001546 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
- 001539 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1988
- 001540 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1988
- 010776 - collected by Chipper Wichman in 1989
- 005589 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1990
- 012996 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
- 036954 - collected by Patti Welton in 1991
- 012932 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
- 031423 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1995
- S063698 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1995
- 040015 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1995
- 039999 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1996
- 021307 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1996
- 028382 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1999
- S061729 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1999
- 042593 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 1999
- 033568 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1999
- 052382 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
- 060664 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2000
- 043009 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2004
- 062028 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
- 065317 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2005
- 054584 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
- 053988 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2006
- 047289 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
- S047207 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2006
- 061194 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2010
- 058727 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2010
- S062226 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2010
- 053108 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2010
- 065637 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
- 065298 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2012
- 072662 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2013
- 081165 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2016
- 084099 - collected by Susan M. Deans in 2016
- 079136 - collected by Barbara Kennedy in 2018
- 082123 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2020
- Unassigned - collected by Mike Opgenorth in 2024
