It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui.

It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1992.

The leaves have narrow blades measuring up to 8 centimeters long but just a few millimeters in width.

The inflorescence is a cluster of flowers with tiny green sepals and no petals.

[2] It has been threatened by the presence of feral goats in its habitat, but most of these have been excluded.