This is a shrub with long, slender branching stems and inflorescences of 1 to 3 flowers. It grows in degraded forest habitat on the slopes of the volcano Haleakalā. There is a single plant on state-owned property, and perhaps 25 more on private property. The solitary plant on state land is protected in an enclosure in the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve, and it is producing fruit. None of the other plants have been observed reproducing.