Haplostachys haplostachya

Description:

HonohonoLamiaceae (Mint family)Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Kauai & Maui, extinct; Hawaii Island, extant)NatureServe: Critically ImperiledOahu (Cultivated)Leaves have a soft downy feelLeaveswww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/10872789836/in/datetaken...Habitwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/14295165130/in/photolist...The endemic Hawaiian genus Haplostachys belongs to a group of over sixty native mints, the majority of which do not have fragrant leaves. However, while honohono leaves have no scent, the flowers certainly do. Some who have smelled the pua (flowers) have said they have a pleasant scent, while others 'do not really care for the smell.'This species, Haplostachys haplostachya, is the last of the five known species. The others are extinct and are now found only as dried herbarium specimens. Haplostachys bryanii, H. linearifolia, and H. munroi can be seen on my Photostream.EtymologyThe generic name and specific epithets are drived from the Greek haplo, single, and stachys and stachya, spike, in reference to the single flower at each axis of the verticillaster in these plants.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Haplostachys_haplostachya