Silene hawaiiensis

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Silene hawaiiensis
Status TNC G2.svg
Imperiled  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Silene
Species:
S. hawaiiensis
Binomial name
Silene hawaiiensis

Silene hawaiiensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names Hawai'i catchfly, [2] Hawaiian catchfly and Sherff's catchfly. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Hawaii. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat and it is a federally listed threatened species of the United States. [1]

Contents

Description

This subshrub grows 15 to 40 centimeters tall and bears narrow leaves and greenish white flowers. [1] The roots are spindle-shaped [1] and sometimes grow exposed aboveground, which may help the plant survive. [3]

Distribution and habitat

This plant grows on the lava and ash substrates of the volcanoes of the island of Hawaii. [1] It grows at Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualālai. [1] It is a member of the sparse flora in the southwest rift zone of Kilauea, which includes such plants as Coprosma ernodeoides (pilo), Dubautia ciliolata (naenae), Leptecophylla tameiameiae (pukiawe), Metrosideros polymorpha (ʻōhiʻa lehua), Nephrolepis exaltata (nianiau, ikupukupu), Sadleria sp. (amau), and Vaccinium reticulatum (ōhelo ʻai). A recent estimate is a total of 22 populations containing 8360 individuals. [3]

Conservation

Silene hawaiiensis was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act on 04 March 1994. Threats to the plant include fire in some areas. Fire also fosters the takeover of invasive plant species such as Pennisetum setaceum (fountain grass), which displaces native plants; the flammable fountain grass then increases the likelihood of more fire. Construction and other activities at Mauna Kea and the Pohakuloa Training Area may threaten some plants. Introduced Mouflon sheep are a threat to this and other native plants. Insect damage and climate change may be threats as well. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Silene</i> genus of plants

Silene is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Containing approximately 700 species, it is the largest genus in the family. Common names include campion and catchfly. Many Silene species are widely distributed, particularly in the northern hemisphere.

Mauna Loa Volcano on the island of Hawaii in Hawaii, United States

Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi in the Pacific Ocean. The largest subaerial volcano in both mass and volume, Mauna Loa has historically been considered the largest volcano on Earth, dwarfed only by Tamu Massif. It is an active shield volcano with relatively gentle slopes, with a volume estimated at approximately 18,000 cubic miles (75,000 km3), although its peak is about 125 feet (38 m) lower than that of its neighbor, Mauna Kea. Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are silica-poor and very fluid, and they tend to be non-explosive.

Mauna Kea Hawaiian volcano

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its peak is 4,207.3 m (13,803 ft) above sea level, making it the highest point in the state of Hawaii. Most of the volcano is underwater, and when measured from its underwater base, Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world, measuring over 10,000 m (33,000 ft) in height. Mauna Kea is about a million years old, and has thus passed the most active shield stage of life hundreds of thousands of years ago. In its current post-shield state, its lava is more viscous, resulting in a steeper profile. Late volcanism has also given it a much rougher appearance than its neighboring volcanoes due to construction of cinder cones, decentralization of its rift zones, glaciation on its peak, and weathering by the prevailing trade winds. Mauna Kea last erupted 6,000 to 4,000 years ago and is now considered dormant. The peak is about 38 m (125 ft) higher than Mauna Loa, its more massive neighbor.

Kīlauea Active volcano in Hawaii

Kīlauea is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands that last erupted between 1983 and 2018. Historically, Kīlauea is the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaiʻi. Located along the southeastern shore of the island, the volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and emerged above sea level about 100,000 years ago.

<i>Silene armeria</i> species of plant

Silene armeria, commonly known as the Sweet William catchfly, is a species of plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Originally a native of Europe, it has become widespread in the United States. Perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. A small-growing form is known as dwarf catchfly. The name comes from the way in which small insects are trapped by the sticky sap exuded onto the stem. However it is not currently regarded as a carnivorous plant, though it has been identified as a carnivorous plant in the past.

The Natural Area Reserves System (NARS) of Hawaii is a statewide attempt to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible, of the natural flora and fauna, as well as geological sites, of Hawaii.

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

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.

Mauna Kea silversword highly endangered flowering plant endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi

Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. sandwicense, the Mauna Kea silversword, is a highly endangered flowering plant endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi of Hawaii. It is the "crown jewel" of the volcanic mountain Mauna Kea, from which it derives its English name. The Hawaiian name is ʻahinahina; it applies to silverswords more broadly. The Mauna Kea silversword was once common on the volcano, and extraordinary conservation efforts are being made to preserve the species.

<i>Silene noctiflora</i> species of plant

Silene noctiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names night-flowering catchfly, nightflowering silene and clammy cockle. It is native to Eurasia, but it is known on other continents as an introduced species and sometimes a weed. In North America, it is a common weed of grain crops in the Canadian prairie provinces and in much of the United States. It grows in fields and in other disturbed habitat.

<i>Silene scouleri</i> species of plant

Silene scouleri is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names simple campion and Scouler's catchfly.

Clermontia lindseyana is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name hillside clermontia. It is one of several Hawaiian lobelioids in genus Clermontia that are known as `oha wai. This plant is known only from Haleakalā, a volcano on the island of Maui, and Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, volcanoes on the island of Hawaii. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Clermontia pyrularia</i> species of plant

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. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Cyanea platyphylla</i> species of plant

Cyanea platyphylla is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common names puna cyanea and flatleaf cyanea. It is endemic to the island of Hawaii, where there are fewer than 100 plants remaining in the wild. It is a federally listed endangered species. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

Phyllostegia velutina is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name velvet phyllostegia. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is limited to the island of Hawaii, including the slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Silene alexandri</i> species of plant

Silene alexandri is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names Kamalo Gulch catchfly and Alexander's catchfly. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Molokai. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat and it is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Silene lanceolata</i> species of plant

Silene lanceolata is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names Kauai catchfly and lanceolate catchfly. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii, having been extirpated from Kauai and Lanai. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat and it is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Silene polypetala</i> species of plant

Silene polypetala is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names eastern fringed catchfly and fringed campion. It is native to Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is threatened by the loss and degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Silene spaldingii</i> species of plant

Silene spaldingii is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common names Spalding's silene, Spalding's catchfly and Spalding's campion. It is native to eastern Washington, and eastern Oregon in the United States, as well as northern Idaho and northern Montana, where its distribution extends just into British Columbia, Canada. It is limited to the last remaining stretches of pristine prairie grassland in this region. It is threatened by the degradation and loss of its remaining habitat. It is federally listed as a threatened species in the United States and it is designated endangered by Canada's COSEWIC.

<i>Silene regia</i> species of plant

Silene regia is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name royal catchfly. It is native to the central United States. A perennial herb, it grows from a fleshy taproot and has several erect stems growing up to 1.6 meters tall. The leaves are lance-shaped to oval and up to 12 centimeters long, becoming smaller farther up the stem. The inflorescence is an array of many flowers at the top of the stem. The elongate tubular calyx of sepals is up to 2.5 centimeters long and has 10 longitudinal veins. The lobes of the bright red corolla are 1 to 2 centimeters long.

<i>Sicyos macrophyllus</i> species of plant

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. Common names include alpine bur cucumber, largeleaf bur-cucumber, and 'anunu.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Silene hawaiiensis. The Nature Conservancy.
  2. "Silene hawaiiensis". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA . Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 USFWS. Silene hawaiiensis Five-year Review. August 2010.