Hibiscadelphus distans

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Hibiscadelphus distans
Hibiscadelphus distans

Hibiscadelphus distans

Systematics
Eurosiden II
Order : Mallow-like (Malvales)
Family : Mallow family (Malvaceae)
Subfamily : Malvoideae
Genre : Hibiscadelphus
Type : Hibiscadelphus distans
Scientific name
Hibiscadelphus distans
Bishop & Fall

Hibiscadelphus distans is a very rare tree in the genus Hibiscadelphus . It only occurs in its wild form on the island of Kaua'i in the Hawaiian archipelago.

description

H. distans is a shrub or small tree that reaches a height of 5.5 m. It has a smooth gray bark and a rounded crown. The four to ten centimeters long, medium green leaves are heart-shaped and covered with star-shaped hair. The flower is 3.5 cm long and barely open. The petals are initially green and get a wine-red color with age.

Occurrence

The occurrence of H. distans is limited to lower to medium altitudes between 305 m and 550 m in the remains of an endemic open dry forest on the Koai'e River in Waimea Canyon . The ground consists of basalt rock, overlaid by dry, crumbly, red-brown earth. The average temperature is 18.5 to 25.7 ° C.

status

There are only two known populations found in the wild, with an estimated population of 80 to 200 trees. The original population, discovered in 1972, was in the state-owned Nā Pali Kona Forest Reserve in Koaiʻe Canyon . In 1989 this population was destroyed by a landslide. Three botanical gardens are currently trying to cultivate this plant species: the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauaʻi and the Waimea Valley and the Lyon Arboretum on Oʻahu .

Despite its extreme rarity, H. distans is the most common species in the genus Hibiscadelphus . Soil erosion caused by overgrazing by feral goats and pigs and competition with invasive plant species are considered to be the greatest threat .

literature

  • Warren L. Wagner, Derral R. Herbst, SH Sohmer: Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i . University of Hawai'i Press, 1999

Web links

Commons : Hibiscadelphus distans  - collection of images, videos and audio files