[syn. Hedyotis st.-johnii]Rubiaceae (Coffee family)Endemic to the Hawaiian islands (Kauai only)IUCN: Critically EndangeredKauai (Cultivated)EtymologyKadua is the oldest generic name for these species and is named in memory of M. Kadua, a native of Ulea, who sailed with Otto von Kotzebue (1787-1846), Baltic German navigator in Russian service, with the purpose of collecting plants.The specific epithet, st.-johnii, is named after Harold St. John (1892-1991), a professor of botany at University of Hawai Mnoa from 1929 to 1958 and a prolific field botanist, credited with discovering hundreds of new species.nativeplants.hawaii.edu
This lovely vine has been blooming in the Gainesville area now for a couple of weeks. All parts of the plant including the nectar are toxic to humans and honeybees. This plant was living happily (despite temps in the 30s and frost) among tall oak trees on the west side of Celebration Pointe in Gainesville, Florida. Wikipedia points out that the toxin may actually benefit bumblebees suffering from parasites.https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelsemium_sempervirens
