A line of Maui devotees

Maui faithful row (lat. Bidens mauiensis) is a rare low-growing plant of the genus Bidens (lat. Bidens), which has chosen the only place on Earth for its residence – the island of Maui in the Hawaiian archipelago.

Its succulent leaves come in different shapes and thicknesses depending on the area. Since ancient times, the island’s aborigines have used them to treat sick people. Yellow, spectacular basket-inflorescences add color to the plant.

What’s in your name

The first word of the Latin name of the plant, “Bidens”, depicts the ruffy seeds of any type of series, provided by nature with spiny awns, the number of which in different species ranges from 2 to 4 pieces. Although the word itself contains only two spines, or rather, “two teeth” – this is how the first word of the Latin name is translated into Russian.

The specific name of the described plant, “mauiensis”, one of the possible translations of which can be two Russian words “devoted Maui”, reflects the birthplace of this species of Chereda and the plant’s devotion to its homeland. After all, there is only one place on the planet where you can find this species of Chered in the wild. Such a place is the island of Maui, part of the Hawaiian archipelago of 24 islands.

Although the area of ​​the island of Maui is larger than the area of ​​​​the island of Oahu, on which the poplar tree (lat. Bidens populifolia), which is also a rare plant on earth, grows, the number of people who settled on the island of Maui is 6 (six) times less than the population of the island of Oahu.

But the island of Maui has a patriot plant – Chereda, the name of which has been transferred to the species name of the island itself. As for the name of the island, it was given by the first settlers who arrived in these places much earlier than the European conquerors. Hawaiian natives preserve the memory of the first settler, who named the island after his eldest son, Maui. (By the way, the name of the island “Oahu” was given in honor of the daughter of this discoverer of the archipelago).

The plant was first described by botanists in 1920.

Description

Bidens mauiensis is a low-growing herbaceous plant. You could even say that this is a low-growing shrub creeping along the surface of the dry rocky shores of the island of Maui.

The shape and thickness of the leaves sessile on the stems varies depending on the type of terrain. In any case, these are fleshy succulent leaves that store moisture for future use.

Single large baskets of flower inflorescences are located on long thin peduncles. They are very impressive, but do not exude any aroma. The central disk of the basket is filled with graceful miniature tubular flowers with five bent yellow lobes, from the center of which stigmas and stamens protrude. The disk is surrounded by asexual marginal flowers-petals of a lighter yellow hue. The petals are short, oval-shaped, similar to a lemon, rolled out with a rolling pin until almost flat. On older plants and towards the end of the flowering season, the size of the inflorescences decreases. Overall the basket is very similar to a miniature Sunflower.

The tubular flowers develop into spinous seeds.

Usage

The succulent, fleshy leaves of Bidens mauiensis were used by the local population of the island for medicinal purposes. They were used to prepare tonic tea, which was superior in quality to traditional long tea, which was drunk in Asian and European countries.

Due to the isolation of the plant on one island, it still remains unclaimed by gardeners and flower growers, although the flowering Seed mauiensis is a very spectacular and colorful plant. The plant’s ability to survive on rocky cliffs makes it attractive for use in rock gardens and alpine gardens.