Capparis sandwichiana is a species of shrubs characterized by usually decumbent or prostrate stems spanning 1–5 meters long. These stems are young and range from glabrous to puberulent, typically becoming glabrate with age. The leaves are simple and alternate, with ovate, elliptic, or broadly elliptic blades measuring 2.4–6 cm in length and 1.9–5 cm in width, characterized by an obtuse or emarginate apex and a fleshy, often glaucous nature. The margins are entire, and petioles extend 1–4 cm long. The flowers are solitary and axillary, featuring bisexual (perfect) and zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetric) traits, and notably open after sunset. The calyx is zygomorphic, with a strongly saccate outer sepal measuring 2–4 cm long and the other 2–2.5 cm long, either glabrous or puberulent at the base. The corolla consists of four white petals that turn pink as they age; the upper pair is rhombic, measuring 2–5.5 cm in length and densely pilose along their union line, while the lower pair is broadly obovate to suborbicular, measuring 3–4.5 cm long. The flower includes approximately 120–180 stamens with white filaments turning pink with age, 3–7 cm long, and a gynophore 1–1.5 cm long at anthesis, elongating to 5–6 cm in fruit. The fruit is an orange ellipsoid berry measuring 4–5 cm long and 1.7–3 cm in diameter. It contains dark reddish-brown to gray, asymmetrically reniform seeds 2.5–5 mm long nestled in fetid orange pulp. It is found in scattered populations on coral and basaltic rocks, soil along the coast, or inland, thriving at elevations ranging from 0-100(–575) meters.
Bean-shaped (Reniform): Resembling the shape of a kidney or bean.
Square or Oblong: Angular shape with all sides more or less equal or longer than wide.
Triangular: Three-sided shape, broadest below the middle.
Elliptic: Rounded at both ends. shaped like an ellipse or oval.
Ovate or Obovate: egg-shaped, broader at one end.
Linear: Extremely long and narrow, with sides usually parallel.
Round: Appears circular, with length and width roughly the same.
Cardioid (Heart-Shaped): One edge has a prominent double curve into two lobes.
Cylindrical: A cylinder with parallel sides and a circular cross-section.
Discoid: Resembling a disc or plate with two relatively flat surfaces.
Fusiform: Spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
Globose: Spherical.
Lenticular: Resembling a lens with two convex surfaces.
Ovoid: Egg-shaped.
Plano-convex: Having a flat ventral (planar) surface and a curved dorsal (convex) surface.
Polygonal: Having more than three flat faces meeting at angles.
Sectoroid: Resembling a segment of an orange with two relatively flat faces and one curved face.
Subglobose/ellipsoid: Inflated shape but less than spherical.
Trigonous: Having three faces that meet at a distinct angle; triangular in cross-section.
Endangered species (E) are species that are so rare they’re in danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened species (T) are species that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Species of Concern (SOC) are species about which there are some concerns regarding status and threats, but insufficient information is available to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) is a state status for rare plants that focuses its efforts on species that have fewer than 50 remaining wild individuals.
Orthodox seeds (desiccation-tolerant): can be dried to an internal seed moisture of less than 12% water and stored at freezing temperatures.
Intermediate seeds (temperature-sensitive) tend to age faster than orthodox seeds and may have only a 5-year lifespan when stored at -20°C. They are recommended for storage at 5°C.
Recalcitrant seeds (desiccation-sensitive): cannot be stored in a conventional freezer as they cannot survive after drying and/or freezing at -20°C. They are recommended for cryopreservation storage.