Delissea rhytidosperma

Delissea kauaiensis
syn: Delissea rhytidosperma

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Delissea
Species: D. kauaiensis
Binomial name
Delissea kauaiensis
Synonyms

Delissea rhytidosperma H.Mann

Delissea kauaiensis, syn: Delissea rhytidosperma, is known by the common names Kauai delissea, Kauai leechleaf delissea, and Leechleaf delissea. It is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, that is endemic to Hawaii where it is known only from the island of Kauai. It is extinct in the wild.

Plants that formerly belonged to the species D. rhytidosperma are now called Delissea kauaiensis.[1] It is a federally listed endangered species.

Description

Fruit of D. rhytidosperma

Delissea kauaiensis, a Hawaiian lobelioid, is a shrub which grows up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) tall. The leaves have lance-shaped or nearly oval blades up to 19 centimeters long. The tubular flowers have greenish or purplish petals and distinctive hairs next to the anthers.[2]

The plant's natural habitat is rocky cliffsides in moist forests dominated by Acacia koa. This habitat has been destroyed and degraded by the action of feral pigs, goats, and mule deer,[1] and by exotic plant species.Germination and establishment are further limited by non-native rodents, snails, and grasses.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 USFWS. Delissea rhytidosperma Five-year Review. January 2008.
  2. ↑ Delissea rhytidosperma. Center for Plant Conservation.
  3. ↑ Erwin, Tracy L.; T.P. Young (2010). "A native besieged: the effects of non-native frugivores and ground vegetation on fruit removal in a highly endangered Hawai'ian shrub, Delissea rhytidosperma (Campanulaceae)". Pacific Science. 64:: 33–43.


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