Clermontia pyrularia

Clermontia pyrularia
Clermontia pyrularia
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Clermontia
Species: C. pyrularia
Binomial name
Clermontia pyrularia
Hillebr.[1]

Clermontia pyrularia is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common names Hamakua clermontia and pear clermontia. It is one of several Hawaiian lobelioids in genus Clermontia that are known as ʻoha wai and haha. It is endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi, where there is one remaining wild population containing 15 individuals and several propagated individuals that have been planted in protected habitat.[2] This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

This is a small tree which grows in Metrosideros polymorpha and Acacia koa dominated montane wet and subalpine dry forests on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea between 3,000 and 7,000 ft (910 and 2,100 m). Associated plants include Lythrum maritimum and Rubus hawaiensis. It has toothed leaf blades borne on winged petioles. The plant blooms in November and December in greenish white double-lipped flowers with green-tipped sepals. Pear-shaped fruits occur soon after.[3][4]

Threats to this rare plant include feral pigs, black rats, and introduced plant species such as banana passionfruit (Passiflora mollissima), weeping rice grass (Ehrharta stipoides), and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum).[2] The plant also likely suffers from the loss of several native nectar-feeding birds which once pollinated it, and fruit-eating birds which dispersed its seeds.[2]

A few populations have been planted in Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Taxon: Clermontia pyrularia Hillebr.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1999-12-28. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?320409. Retrieved 2011-02-19. 
  2. ^ a b c d USFWS. Clermontia pyrularia Five-year Review. August 2, 2007.
  3. ^ Clermontia pyrularia. Center for Plant Conservation.
  4. ^ Bruegmann, M. M. & V. Caraway. (2003). Clermontia pyrularia. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2010. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 13 February 2011.

External links

Media related to Clermontia pyrularia at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Clermontia pyrularia at Wikispecies

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