It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

[3] This is a shrub with long, slender branching stems and inflorescences of 1 to 3 flowers.

It grows in degraded forest habitat on the slopes of the volcano Haleakalā.

[4] The solitary plant on state land is protected in an enclosure in the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve, and it is producing fruit.

Many species of non-native plants are present in the area, including balloon plant (Asclepias physocarpa), beggarticks (Bidens pilosa), lantana (Lantana camara), prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum).