Naupaka’s yellow blooms catch the eye Description: Small shrubs
3 to 4 feet tall with narrow leaves 2 to 3 inches long and up to
1 inch wide. The margins of the leaves are slightly serrated
near the tip. The most appealing feature of this native plant is
its fragrant yellow half-flowers, compared with the other eight
native species of naupaka, six of which are also mountain-
dwelling. The other two are the common coastal naupaka kahakai
(Scaevola sericea) and the endangered dwarf naupaka (Scaevola
coriacea), also found near the ocean. This particular species
has the most narrow and pointed petals of them all; it's very
striking. The color of the flower is unusual -- the only other
yellow-flowered species of naupaka is the 'ohe naupaka (Scaevola
glabra), which is much rarer. Once the flowers are pollinated,
small black fruit develop with a single seed within.
Distribution: This endemic species is found in dry to mesic
forests on all the main islands except Niihau and Kahoolawe,
unlike other mountain naupaka, wh