| Vigna owahuensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Vigna |
| Species: | V. owahuensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Vigna owahuensis Vogel | |
| Synonyms | |
Vigna sandwicensis | |
Vigna owahuensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Oahu cowpea.
It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from seven small populations on the islands of Hawaii, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe. Though it was described from a specimen collected on Oahu it is now extirpated from that island. It was also known from Niihau, Maui, and Kauai in the past.
This plant grows in many types of shrubland and grassland habitat, as well as in some cultivated areas. It occurs on cinder cones and offshore islets and exposed coral reefs. [1]
Vigna owahuensis is an annual or perennial herb growing up to 40 cm (16 in) long. Each leaf has three hairy leaflets of widely varying shape and size. Flowers occur singly or in clusters of up to four. They are light yellow or greenish in color and are about 2 or 2.5 cm (0.79 or 0.98 in) long. The fruit is a long, thin legume pod up to 9 cm (3.5 in) in length. The pod may be slightly inflated or not. It contains up to 15 gray or black beans around .5 cm (0.20 in) long. [2]
The species faces many threats, including loss of habitat to agriculture and development, degradation of the habitat by exotic plants and animals, and military activity. [1] It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. [2]
There are fewer than 100 individuals in total remaining on four islands. Two of the seven populations are on Molokai, one occurring in a plantation of tropical ash and pine trees. As of the year 1994 there was only one plant known on Lanai. There are several individuals on Hawaii and Kahoolawe. [2]
In an archipelago like the Hawaiian Islands the water between islands is typically called a channel or passage. Described here are the channels between the islands of Hawaiʻi, arranged from northwest to southeast.
The nene, also known as the nēnē or the Hawaiian goose, is a species of bird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The official bird of the state of Hawaiʻi, the nene is exclusively found in the wild on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, and Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiian hibiscus are seven species of hibiscus native to Hawaii. The yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's state flower. Most commonly grown as ornamental plants in the Hawaiian Islands are the Chinese hibiscus and its numerous hybrids, though the native Hibiscus arnottianus is occasionally planted.
The Hawaiian lobelioids are a group of flowering plants in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This is the largest plant radiation in the Hawaiian Islands, and indeed the largest on any island archipelago, with over 125 species. The six genera can be broadly separated based on growth habit: Clermontia are typically branched shrubs or small trees, up to 7 metres (23 ft) tall, with fleshy fruits; Cyanea and Delissea are typically unbranched or branching only at the base, with a cluster of relatively broad leaves at the apex and fleshy fruits; Lobelia and Trematolobelia have long thin leaves down a single, non-woody stem and capsular fruits with wind-dispersed seeds; and the peculiar Brighamia have a short, thick stem with a dense cluster of broad leaves, elongate white flowers, and capsular fruits.
The Hawaiian hoary bat, also known as ʻōpeʻapeʻa, is a species of bat endemic to the islands of Hawaiʻi. Whereas the mainland hoary bat is found throughout North America, the Hawaiian hoary bat is distributed only among the major volcanic islands of Hawaiʻi, making it the only extant and native terrestrial mammal in the state. The Hawaiian hoary bat was officially named the state land mammal of Hawaiʻi in 2015. It is a federally listed endangered taxon of the United States.
The Maui Nui 'akialoa or Lana'i 'akialoa was a Hawaiian honeycreeper of the subfamily Carduelinae and the family Fringillidae. It was endemic to the island of Lanai, Hawaii in modern times, but seems to have occurred on all major islands of former Maui Nui before human settlement.
The olomaʻo is a small, dark solitaire endemic to Oahu, Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi in the Hawaiian Islands. It is listed as Critically Endangered or possibly extinct.
Schenkia sebaeoides, known as ʻĀwiwi in Hawaiian and lavaslope centaury in English, is a rare species of flowering plant. It is endemic to low shrublands in the state of Hawaiʻi in the United States. It is present on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Maui. At the time it was added to the endangered species list of the United States in 1991 it was known from seven populations for a total of fewer than 1000 individuals. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Cyperus trachysanthos is a rare species of sedge known by the common names pu`uka`a and sticky flatsedge. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from Kauai and Oahu. It was known from Niihau, Molokai and Lanai, but it has been extirpated from these islands. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Diplazium molokaiense is a rare species of fern known by the common name Molokai twinsorus fern. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is one of the rarest ferns. It has historically been found on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Maui, but it is thought to have been extirpated from four of them and today can be found only on Maui where fewer than 70 individual plants remain. The fern was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1994.
Cyperus fauriei is a rare species of sedge known by the common name alpine flatsedge. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it grows on the islands of Molokai and Hawaii. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Melicope munroi is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae known by the common names lanahale and Munro's pelea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Lanai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Hawaiian Melicope, this species is known as alani.
Neraudia sericea is a rare species of flowering plant in the nettle family known by the common name woodland ma'oloa. It is endemic to Hawaii. It has been found on the islands of Molokai, Maui, Lanai, and Kahoolawe, but it has only been seen recently on Molokai and Maui. There are fewer than 200 individuals remaining. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Peucedanum sandwicense is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name makou. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from Maui, Molokai, Kauai, and Oahu. It is threatened by introduced species of plants and animals. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
Plantago princeps is a rare species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common name ale. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. Like other Hawaiian Plantago, it is known as kuahiwi laukahi, or laukahi kuahiwi. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
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.
Spermolepis hawaiiensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Hawai'i scaleseed. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from the islands of Kauai, Maui, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat and it is a federally listed endangered species.
Solanum incompletum is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae known by the common names thorny popolo and popolo ku mai. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it occurs today on the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Hawaii. It is threatened by the destruction and degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Vigna marina is a prostrate, creeping vine and a perennial plant. Also known as the beach pea, nanea, and notched cowpea, it is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae.
Media related to Vigna owahuensis at Wikimedia Commons
