Vicia menziesii

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Vicia menziesii
Vicia menziesii FWS.jpg
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Fabeae
Genus: Vicia
Species:
V. menziesii
Binomial name
Vicia menziesii

Vicia menziesii is a rare species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Hawaiian vetch. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss and exotic plants. It has been federally listed as an endangered species of the United States since 1978. [1] It was the first Hawaiian plant to be placed on the Endangered Species List. [2]

This plant is a liana which climbs into the surrounding trees, reaching a maximum length of 20 meters. [1] [3] A study found the average length of the vine to be 2.6 meters, with a maximum of 12.5 meters in the sample. The vine also branches and climbs in different directions. It may spread along the ground or over detritus for a few meters before climbing upward, but plants were observed climbing 8 meters up into the canopy. [4] The leaves are 10 to 13 centimeters long and are made up of several pairs of leaflets each measuring up to 7 centimeters long by 3 wide. The leaves have tendrils at their tips. The plant produces inflorescences of 6 to 9 flowers with curving corollas up to 3 centimeters long. The flowers are yellowish white turning rose-pink with maturity and then purplish with age. The fruit is a black legume pod 9 or 10 centimeters long containing spherical black seeds. [3]

The flowers are visited by the ʻiʻiwi (Vestiaria coccinea) and the ʻamakihi (Loxops virens virens), two species of Hawaiian honeycreepers. [4] The shape and color of the flowers suggest they may be pollinated by birds. [1]

This plant was first collected in 1794 by Archibald Menzies on Mauna Loa. It has also been collected from Mauna Kea, but it does not appear to occur there anymore. [1] As of 1980 the total global population was made up of three colonies in an area one kilometer long on Mauna Loa. [4] There are only 15 to 50 individuals in total. [2]

This species was depicted on a U.S. commemorative stamp issued on June 7, 1979. [5]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Vicia cracca</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Vicia hirsuta</i> Species of legume

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<i>Vicia sepium</i> Species of legume

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<i>Vicia lutea</i> Species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae

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<i>Vicia sylvatica</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Vicia lathyroides</i> Species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae

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<i>Vicia americana</i> Plant species in the pea family

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<i>Astragalus jaegerianus</i> Species of legume

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<i>Vicia benghalensis</i> Species of legume

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<i>Vicia nigricans</i> Species of legume

Vicia nigricans is a species of vetch known by the common name black vetch. It has a disjunct distribution, its two subspecies divided by thousands of miles in range. The northern subspecies, ssp. gigantea, is native to western North America from Alaska to northern California, where it occurs in coastal and moist inland habitat and disturbed areas. The southern subspecies, ssp. nigricans, occurs in southern South America, in Argentina and Chile.

<i>Vicia hassei</i> Species of legume

Vicia hassei is a species of vetch known by the common names Hasse's vetch and slender vetch.

<i>Vicia pannonica</i> Species of legume

Vicia pannonica is a species of vetch known by the common name Hungarian vetch. It is native to southern, central Europe and western Asia, and it is sometimes cultivated as an agricultural crop for use as hay and fodder. It may escape cultivation and grow as a casual roadside weed.

<i>Aeschynomene americana</i> Species of legume

Aeschynomene americana is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legume) known by many common names, including shyleaf, forage aeschynomene, American joint vetch, thornless mimosa, bastard sensitive plant (Jamaica), pega pega, pega ropa, antejuela, ronte, cujicillo, and dormilonga. It is native to Central America, parts of South America, the West Indies, and Florida. It is now found in the US, in Australia and in South-East Asia.

<i>Rhynchosia minima</i> Species of legume

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<i>Canavalia cathartica</i> Species of legume

Canavalia cathartica, commonly known as maunaloa in the Hawaiian language, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. The Hawaiian name translates as long mountain. In English it may also be known as poisonous sea bean, ground jack bean, horse bean, silky sea bean or wild bean. It has a Paleotropical distribution, occurring throughout tropical regions in Asia, Africa, Australia, and many Pacific Islands, and extending just into subtropical areas. It is not native to Hawaii, and is an invasive species there.

<i>Vicia grandiflora</i> Species of plant

Vicia grandiflora, commonly known as large yellow vetch and bigflower vetch, as well as large-flowered vetch, is a common herbaceous plant species in the family Fabaceae, which occurs as a native plant species in Europe and Asia, as well as an introduced vetch species in North America.

<i>Vicia tenuifolia</i> Species of plant

Vicia tenuifolia, the fine-leaved vetch,cow vetch, fodder vetch or bramble vetch, is a herbaceous perennial plant species in the family Fabaceae. This species is widespread in Europe and some parts of both Asia and Africa. In some other areas it occurs as an introduced species. In a few countries this edible vetch is used as food for both humans and farm animals.

<i>Vicia bithynica</i> Species of flowering plant

Vicia bithynica known as Bithynian vetch, is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus, initially as Lathyrus bithynicus but later moved to the genus Vicia (vetches). The specific name is derived from Bithynia, an ancient kingdom situated on the north coast of Anatolia, in modern day Turkey.

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