# Dubautia Ciliolata

Dubautia ciliolata, commonly known as na'ena'e, is a remarkable evergreen shrub endemic to the island of Hawaii. Growing directly out of harsh, barren basaltic lava flows, this resilient plant is a member of the famous Hawaiian silversword alliance. It represents one of the most stunning examples of adaptive radiation in the botanical world, where a single ancestral colonist from North America evolved into dozens of highly diverse species spanning alpine heights to wet rainforests. With its compact, dome-like growth habit and vibrant clusters of yellow flowers, Dubautia ciliolata brings life to some of the youngest and most sterile landscapes on Earth. It serves as an essential pioneer species, trapping dust, organic matter, and moisture to help kickstart soil formation on fresh lava fields.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Found in high-elevation subalpine shrublands and pioneering barren basaltic lava flows on the island of Hawaii.

![Dubautia Ciliolata](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/270414899/medium.jpeg)

Photo: David Anderson, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/270414899)

## Appearance

This plant is a small, densely branched shrub reaching up to 150 centimeters in height, often taking on a rounded, compact form. Its leaves are small, stiff, and lance-shaped, measuring about 1 to 2 centimeters long, and are densely crowded along the branches. A key identification feature is the presence of fine, eyelash-like hairs along the edges of the leaves. During its blooming period, it produces striking, tight inflorescences at the branch tips containing small, tubular, bright yellow flowers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Dubautia

## Interesting facts

- Despite looking like a small woody shrub, it is closely related to the famous Hawaiian silversword, sharing a common ancestor that arrived in Hawaii millions of years ago.
- Its wood and leaves contain sticky resins that help protect the plant from extreme water loss and deter opportunistic insect pests.
- The species name 'ciliolata' comes from the Latin word for eyelashes, referencing the dense fringe of fine hairs on its leaf margins.

## Special abilities

- **Lava Pioneer:** Highly adapted to colonizing newly cooled basaltic lava flows, establishing roots in barren cracks where few other plants can survive.
- **Fog Harvesting:** The fine, eyelash-like hairs on the leaf margins help capture atmospheric moisture from passing volcanic fog, channeling water down to the plant's roots.
- **Drought Tolerance:** Thick, leathery leaves and a compact growth form reduce transpiration, allowing the plant to withstand the intense, dry sun of high elevations.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 30-150 cm
- **Lifespan:** 10-50 years

## Diet & Feeding

As a photoautotroph, this species synthesizes its own sugars using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing key mineral nutrients from weathered volcanic soils.

- **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Carbon dioxide, Volcanic minerals

## Ecological connections

- **Mutualism:** Hawaiian Yellow-Faced Bee (*Hylaeus anthracinus*) — Pollinated by endemic bees that feed on its abundant nectar.
- **Eaten by:** Feral Goat (*Capra hircus*) — Foliage and bark are heavily browsed by destructive introduced feral animals.
- **Host plant:** Hawaiian Woodboring Moth (*Thyrocopa apatela*) — Provides essential microhabitat and nectar for native Hawaiian moths.

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Dubautia Ciliolata?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Dubautia Ciliolata?

30-150 cm

### How long does Dubautia Ciliolata live?

10-50 years

### What does Dubautia Ciliolata eat?

As a photoautotroph, this species synthesizes its own sugars using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing key mineral nutrients from weathered volcanic soils.

### Where is Dubautia Ciliolata usually found?

Found in high-elevation subalpine shrublands and pioneering barren basaltic lava flows on the island of Hawaii.

## Where to spot

- [Puna-Ka'u Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/puna-kau-historic-district) — Hawaii, US · Historic District

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Dubautia Ciliolata: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dubautia-ciliolata)