Brighamia rockii explained

Brighamia rockii, known as the Molokai ohaha or Pua ʻala in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, that is endemic to the island of Molokaʻi in Hawaii. Pua ʻala inhabits mesic shrublands and forests on rocky cliffs from sea level to 470m (1,540feet) on the island's northern windward coast. Associated plants include ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata), lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), ʻūlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia), and naupaka (Scaevola gaudichaudii).

Pua ʻala reaches a height of 1- and has a succulent, trunk-like stem that tapers from the base. The oval-shaped leaves are 6- long and 1- wide and form a rosette on the top of the plant.[1] Each inflorescence contains three to eight trumpet-shaped white flowers.[2]

Conservation

Pua ʻala has been extirpated from the islands of Lānaʻi and Maui. Threats to its survival include habitat loss, competition with alien plants, predation by goats and deer, and a lack of pollinators.[1]

There are five occurrences of the plant remaining in the wild, with a total estimated population of fewer than 200.[3] It is federally listed as an endangered species. It is now pollinated by the introduced hawk moth Daphnis nerii.

Some individuals have been cultivated and planted in their native habitat.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brighamia rockii . CPC National Collection Plant Profiles . Center for Plant Conservation . 2008-07-22 . 2009-11-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101028213024/http://centerforplantconservation.org/Collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=632 . 2010-10-28 .
  2. Web site: Brighamia rockii . Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database . . 2009-11-14.
  3. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Brighamia+rockii The Nature Conservancy
  4. USFWS. Brighamia rockii Five Year Review. January 18, 2008.