Sicyos macrophyllus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Cucurbitales |
Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
Genus: | Sicyos |
Species: | S. macrophyllus |
Binomial name | |
Sicyos macrophyllus | |
Sicyos macrophyllus is a rare species of flowering plant in the Cucurbitaceae, the squash family. It is endemic to Hawaii where it is present only on the island of Hawaii. It has likely been extirpated from the island of Maui. [1] Common names include alpine bur cucumber, [2] largeleaf bur-cucumber, and 'anunu. [3]
This is a perennial herb producing vines up to 15 meters long and 4 centimeters thick. They are supported with tendrils. The stems are slightly hairy and have black spots. The leaves are lobed. They are hairless on the upper surface and hairy underneath. The flowers are greenish yellow and the fruit is round. [3]
This plant can be found on the island of Hawaii at elevations between 1200 and 2000 meters. It lives in wet ʻōhiʻa lehua -dominated forest and subalpine forests dominated by māmane and naio . It occurs in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. [3]
There are approximately 24 to 26 individuals of this species in existence. It is not a federally listed endangered or threatened species, but the United States government made it a candidate for protection in 1990. [3] The United States Fish and Wildlife Service considers the plant "highly threatened" and the threats are considered "imminent". However, it does not consider emergency listing necessary as of 2010. [3]
Habitat destruction is a main cause of the species' decline. Feral pigs, sheep, and cattle destroy native plants and cause erosion of the hilly habitat. They are also vectors for the seeds of introduced species of plants, including several types of noxious weed. Cattle will also consume S. macrophyllus directly. [3]
Another threat to the species is competition from alien plant species. The worst offenders are fountain grass, kikuyu grass, and German ivy. Alien species smother other vegetation, compete for resources, pose a fire hazard, and prevent the establishment of other species' seedlings. Some even release allelopathic chemicals that prevent other plants from growing. [3]
The National Park Service is attempting to prevent the extinction of this species. It has erected fences around some of the few individuals that survive today. It also tries to control invasive plants. [3] The National Tropical Botanical Garden has some seed samples. [3]
Cenchrus setaceus, commonly known as crimson fountaingrass, is a C4 perennial bunch grass that is native to open, scrubby habitats in East Africa, tropical Africa, the Middle East and south-western Asia. It has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental plant, and has become an invasive species in some of them. It is drought-tolerant, grows fast, reaches 3 feet in height, and has many purple, plumose flower spikes.
Psidium cattleyanum , commonly known as Cattley guava, strawberry guava or cherry guava, is a small tree in the Myrtaceae (myrtle) family. The species is named in honour of English horticulturist William Cattley. Its genus name Psidium comes from the Latin psidion, or "armlet." The red-fruited variety, P. cattleyanum var. cattleyanum, is commonly known as purple guava, red cattley guava, red strawberry guava and red cherry guava. The yellow-fruited variety, P. cattleyanum var. littorale is variously known as yellow cattley guava, yellow strawberry guava, yellow cherry guava, lemon guava and in Hawaii as waiawī. Although P. cattleyanum has select economic uses, it is considered the most invasive plant in Hawaii.
Amaranthus brownii was an annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae. The plant was found only on the small island of Nihoa in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, growing on rocky outcrops at altitudes of 120–215 m (394–705 ft). It was one of nine species of Amaranthus in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as the only endemic Hawaiian species of the genus. It is now considered extinct.
Bidens amplectens, the Waiʻanae kokoʻolau, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It belongs to the genus Bidens, collectively called kokoʻolau or koʻokoʻolau in the Hawaiian language. It is found in coastal and dry lowland habitats in the Waiʻanae Range on Oʻahu. It is threatened by habitat loss due to the spread of invasive weeds and brush fires. The species is also threatened by climate change and habitat degradation, and herbivory. Bidens amplectens is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Cenchrus agrimonioides is a rare species of grass in the family Poaceae that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Its common names include Kāmanomano and agrimony sandbur. It was formerly distributed throughout the major islands but today it is nearly limited to Oʻahu. Kāmanomano inhabits dry to moist forests and lava plains. It is threatened by competition with non-native plants, predation by ungulates, and wildfire. When this plant became a federally listed endangered species of the United States in 1996 there were fewer than 100 individuals remaining. More recent counts revealed 181 wild individuals on Oʻahu and over 300 more which have been planted to augment the populations. This plant is nearly restricted to the island of Oʻahu, but there are a few individuals known on Maui. A few patches of the grass have been planted on Kahoʻolawe, as well.
Sicyos angulatus, the oneseed bur cucumber or star-cucumber is an annual vine in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, native to eastern North America. The plant forms mats or climbs using tendrils. The leaves are palmately veined and lobed, the flowers are green to yellowish green, and the fruits form clusters of very small pepos.
Arctostaphylos confertiflora is a rare species of manzanita known by the common name Santa Rosa Island manzanita. This shrub is endemic to California, where it grows on the sandstone bluffs of Santa Rosa Island in the Channel Islands. This manzanita is listed as an endangered species by the United States Government.
Andropogon virginicus is a species of grass known by several common names, including broomsedge bluestem, yellowsedge bluestem and whiskey grass. It is native to the southeastern United States and as far north as the Great Lakes. It is known as an introduced species in California and Hawaii, where it is weedy.
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. It is one of two units, along with the Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge that is managed as part of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Access to the Kona Forest is restricted since it contains several endangered species.
Echinocystis is a monotypic genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. The sole species is E. lobata, commonly called wild cucumber, prickly cucumber or bur cucumber. It is an annual, sprawling plant that is native to North America.
Dubautia latifolia is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name koholapehu. It is endemic to Hawaii where it is known only from the west side of the island of Kauai. Like other Dubautia this plant is called na`ena`e.
Exocarpos luteolus is a rare species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common names leafy ballart or heau. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. There are eight populations remaining, for a total global population of only 39 individuals. The plant was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1994.
Poa mannii is a rare species of grass known by the common names Mann's bluegrass and Olokele Gulch bluegrass. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is limited to the island of Kauai. It is threatened by the loss and modification of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Remya kauaiensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common name of Kauai remya. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Schiedea kauaiensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name Kauai schiedea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. It is threatened by the degradation and destruction of its habitat. It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1996.
Sicyos albus is a species of flowering plant in the gourd family known by the common names anunu and white bur-cucumber. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Hawaii. It is threatened by the destruction and degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Alysicarpus vaginalis is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to parts of Africa and Asia, and it has been introduced to other continents, such as Australia and the Americas. It is cultivated as a fodder for livestock, for erosion control, and as a green manure. Common names include alyce clover, buffalo clover, buffalo-bur, one-leaf clover, and white moneywort.
Brachiaria mutica is a species of grass known by the common names para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius signal grass, pasto pare, malojilla, gramalote, parana, Carib grass, and Scotch grass. Despite its common name California grass, it does not occur in California; it is native to northern and central Africa and parts of the Middle East, where it is cultivated for fodder. It was introduced elsewhere and it is now cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world for this purpose.
Cenchrus tribuloides, the dune sandbur, is a grass common along the east coast of the mainland United States as well as Hawaii. It is also known as the sanddune sandbur, long-spine sandbur or sand-dune sandspur and is common in sandy, marshy, or loosely forested areas. It differs from C. spinifex in its larger spikelets and smaller number of spikelets per fascicle, and from C. longispinus in its densely pubescent fascicles, fewer bristles, and wider inner bristles.
Cucumis dipsaceus, also known as Arabian cucumber or hedgehog cucumber, is an annual climbing herb that can be found in tropical and arid locations. The plant is native to eastern Africa, first found in Sudan, southern Egypt, and Ethiopia. The developed fruits of the plant change from green to yellow and contain many seeds. The hairs that cover the oblong fruits nickname this species the “hedgehog cucumber”.