It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1996.

[2] This plant is a vine growing at least 15 centimeters long.

The oppositely arranged leaves have thick blades up to 14 centimeters long by 6 wide and are mostly hairless in texture, except for a few hairs near the edges.

The plant is easily distinguished from other Schiedea on Kauai, which are not vines.

[3][1] It occurs in wet forest habitat near a stream at the edge of Alakai Wilderness Preserve.