Nototrichium humile
Genus
Nototrichium
Species
humile
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Kuluʻī
Hawaiian Names
- Kului
Common Names
- Humble kului
- Kaʻala rockwort
Synonyms
- Psilotrichum humile
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
Federally Listed
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Shrub
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
- Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10
- Shrub, Tall, Greater than 10
Mature Size, Width
About 20 feet
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Hedges
- Screening
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Cream
- White
Plant texture
- Fine
Leaf Colors
- Light Green
- Medium Green
- Red
Additional Leaf Color Information
Leaves are gray-green often with reddish hues and are sparsely to moderately pubescent (hairs) becoming glabrous (without hairs) with age.
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Aphids, mealybugs, scale can all be problematic if not controlled.
Fertilizer
Apply 13-13-13 slow release fertilize every six months. Foliar feeding in early morning with a water-soluble or an organic fertilizer (e.g. kelp or fish emulsion) at one-third to one-fourth the recommended strength every other month has proved beneficial.
Water Requirements
- Dry
Additional Water Information
Plants naturally occur in open dry forest areas.
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Natural Range
- Oʻahu
- Maui
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
Additional Habitat Information
Naturally found in dry, open remnant forests scattered throughout the Waiʻanae Mts., Oʻahu.
This rare kuluī now appears to be extirpated in the Lualaʻilua Hills, East Maui (985 to about 2,300 feet). [1]
Special Features and Information
General Information
Kuluʻī belong to the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). Other native Hawaiian family members include five species of Charpentiera, a rare and little known amaranth (Amaranthus brownii) from Nīhoa, ʻāweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense), and three species of Achyranthes.
Etymology
The generic name Nototrichium comes from the Latin nota, remarkable and tricho, hair, probably referring to the dense pubescence of the plants. However, Nototrichium humile does not have the characteristic downy silvery hairs on the foliage like its two cousins ( N. divaricatum, N. sandwicense).
The Latin specific epithet humile, means low or humble.
Additional References
[1] "Nototrichium humile (Kuluʻī), 5-Year Review Summary and Evaluation" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2008, page 6.
[2] "Implementation Plan for Mākua Military Reservation, Island of Oahu 16.20 Taxon Summary: Nototrichium humile," pages 16-122 to 16-124, 16-126 to 16-127.
PHOTOS FOR THIS SPECIES CAN BE SEEN AT THE LINK (Copy & Paste to your browser):
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50823119%40N08&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=Nototrichium%20humile
Plant Gallery
Back to Plant List
Other Nursery Profiles for Nototrichium humile