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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Scaevola (sericea)

Kim Martz and Forest Starr
Biologists
USDI USFWS - Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge,1082 Makepono St.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
http://www.ggnpa.org

Family Scientific Name: Goodeniaceae
Family Common Name: Goodenia Family
Scientific Name: Scaevola sericea Vahl.
Common Name: Naupaka kahakai
Species Code: SCASER
Ecotype: Midway Atoll
General Distribution: Indigenous to Hawai'i. Naupaka is distributed from India to Hawai'i, and is
found on all the major archipelagoes of Polynesia and Micronesia. It is one of the most
common littoral shrubs, often forming dense thickets on rocky and sandy coasts
throughout the area. In Hawai'i, common in coastal sites throughout the Hawaiian
archipelago, except on Gardner Pinnacles, Necker and Nihoa. On Midway Atoll,
naupaka is common in coastal sites and some sites inland.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 3.5 in containerized seedling
Time To Grow: 1 Years
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.<br>
Propagule Collection: Mature fruit a fleshy white drupe, 8-15 mm long. Fruit white,
pulpy, with seeds beige, corky, and ridged.
Collecting seeds: Collect ripe or mature fruits from plants and place in zip-lock or plastic
bags. Collect only what you need. Collect from plants that have a large enough seed
source so that the habitat will not suffer from the collection. Seeds should be cleaned
before they are sown.
Propagule Processing: To prepare seeds from fruit that is fleshy or pulpy, place ripe fruits in a bucket or bowl of waterand gently separate seeds from pulp by mashing or massaging fruit. Pour off remainingwater and pulp. Seeds are ready to be sown. If storing seeds, dry well and store in cool, dry place.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Experiments have
shown successful germination after soaking in salt water up to 250 days.
Sowing Method:
Once seeds are ready to be sown, prepare seed tray or pots with well
drained potting mix.Seeds can be sown in pots or trays. Seed trays are preferred
because they will allow for proper development of roots and easy up-potting. Wet down
tray before sowing. Sow seeds evenly on tray or pots. A general rule of seed sowing is
to sow them as deep, or up to 3 times as deep, as seed diameter. Water well
and evenly.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
The nursery's irrigation system is comprised of sprinkler heads which are
manually operated. The sprinklers are misters and should be maintained so that they flow
freely. Potted plants are watered daily, either in the morning or the evening.

Potting media is Sunshine Mix potting soil, and is used in a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 (v:v) potting soil to sand ratio.

Diseases and insects are controlled by removing them manually off plants, sticky traps or using a solution of soapy water.
Be sure to rinse soapy solution off plants after a few hours. Row covers physically prevent insects and birds from landing on plants.
Establishment Phase: Transplanting seedlings: Seedlings will be ready to up-pot from trays when they have at
least 2 sets of mature leaves. Use a pencil or your fingers to gently pry each seedling
apart from others, try to touch or injure roots as little as possible. Arrange clean 3 « "
pots in tray, 25 pots will fit in a tray. Currently, there are a few potting trays and some 3
« " pots, it is suggested that more be purchased and used in the future. This system
allows for quick and efficient growth of plants and ease of moving large amounts of
plants to out-planting sites. Fill pots with well drained potting mix about 1/3 full.
Length of Establishment Phase: 2 months
Length of Active Growth Phase: 10 months
Other Comments: Pests and diseases: Spider mite infestations have occurred in the nursery. Infestations
can be overcome by power washing of leaves and rubbing spider mites off persistently.
Make sure plants have sufficient air flow and are getting enough water. Infestations have
been overcome using these methods in the past in about a month, so be persistent.
References: Bornhorst, H. L. 1996. Growing native Hawaiian plants, a how-to guide for the
gardener. The Bess Press, Inc., Hong Kong.
Bruegmann, M. M. 1998. Report on a botanical survey of Midway Atoll, April 1-7,
1995. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Christophersen, E. and E. L. Caum. 1931. Vascular Plants of the Leeward Island.
Hawai'i. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 81, Tanager Expedition Publication
Number 7, Honolulu.
Lilleeng-Rosenberger, K. date unknown. Propagation techniques for native Hawaiian
plants. National Tropical Botanical Garden.
Morin, M. and S. Conant. 1998. Laysan Island ecosystem restoration plan. University
of Hawai'i.
Neal, M. C. 1965. In gardens of Hawai'i. Bishop Museum Press, special publication 50,
Honolulu.
Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of
Hawai'i, 2 vols. Bishop Museum Special Publication 83, Honolulu.
Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific island seashore. University of Hawai'i
Press, Honolulu.

Citation:

Martz, Kim; Starr, Forest. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Scaevola sericea Vahl. plants 3.5 in containerized seedling; USDI USFWS - Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Honolulu, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.