[N. kahoolawensis Hillebr.; N. melastomaefolia Gaud. var. sericea (Gaud.) Hillebr.]
(end, R)
Shrubs 3-5 m tall; branches densely pubescent with short suberect hairs. Leaves thin or relatively thick, narrowly elliptic, elliptic-ovate to broadly ovate or sometimes elliptic-obovate, 4.3-13 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, upper surface moderately appressed pubescent, the tuft of hairs at leaf base appressed, lower surface densely silky short-pilose, the hairs irregularly curved, grayish to white, 0.2-0.5 mm long, some of the hairs along the veins up to 1 mm long, margins entire, rarely a few teeth present on young leaves, apex abruptly long-acuminate to acute, base cuneate, rarely broadly so, petioles 0.8-5 cm long, densely pubescent with spreading hairs. Staminate flowers on pedicels 0-2 mm long, calyx densely pubescent with appressed or spreading hairs and short, erect, uncinate hairs, lobes 3-3.5 mm long, slightly reflexed; pistillate flowers sessile, calyx densely pubescent with appressed hairs and a few shorter, erect, uncinate hairs, apex 4-toothed, col- lar-like or laciniate, stigma 3-5 mm long, receptive all around. Achenes 1.5-2 mm long, apical portion depressed-conical, separated from basal portion by a deep constriction. Seed ovoid, with a transverse constriction in the upper Vi. Occurring in mesic to dry forest, 670-980 m, on Moloka'i, Lana‘i, Maui, and formerly Kaho‘olawe.