Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_sesbania_tomentosa
Oʻahu Riverhemp
Sesbania tomentosa
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About Oʻahu Riverhemp
Oʻahu Riverhemp (Sesbania tomentosa) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Densely silky shrub with sprawling branches, sometimes an erect small tree 2.5–6 m tall.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomy, nativity, island-level occurrence, growth form, names, and source conservation assessments are documented in the 2026 census audit. Broader ecology and conservation recommendations still require claim-level source review. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Sesbania tomentosa
- Common names
- Oʻahu Riverhemp · ohai
- Hawaiian names
- ʻōhai
- Other names
- Oʻahu Riverhemp · Sesbania tomentosa · Sesbania arborea · Sesbania hawaiiensis · Sesbania hobdyi · Sesbania molokaiensis · Sesbania tomentosa f. arborea · Sesbania tomentosa var. molokaiensis · ʻohai
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Order
- Fabales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessment: Endangered; U.S. source status: Endangered
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld. Growth-form tags describe the taxon across its range, not a measured Kauaʻi population. Checklist source statuses are not a new legal-status determination.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Coastal strand · Dunes · Dry shrubland
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree; Shrub
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Coastal development, invasive plants, browsing, trampling, storms
- Conservation actions
- Coastal restoration, fencing where needed, seed collection, outplanting
- Monitoring
- Coastal restoration, fencing where needed, seed collection, outplanting
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- Oʻahu Riverhemp (Sesbania tomentosa) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Densely silky shrub with sprawling branches, sometimes an erect small tree 2.5–6 m tall.
