Canavalia molokaiensis

Canavalia molokaiensis, commonly known as the Molokaʻi Jack-bean or puakauhi, is a rare species flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to the island of Molokaʻi in Hawaii. This and other Hawaiian Canavalia are known there as ʻāwikiwiki.

Canavalia molokaiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Canavalia
Species:
C. molokaiensis
Binomial name
Canavalia molokaiensis
O.Deg., I.Deg. & J.D.Sauer

The plant is a vine with red-purple pealike flowers. It inhabits exposed, steep cliffs in dry and mesic forests that are dominated by ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa) at elevations of 850–930 m (2,790–3,050 ft). Associated plants include ʻāhinahina (Artemisia spp.), ʻakoko (Euphorbia spp.), pilo (Coprosma spp.), pūkiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae), and ʻākia (Wikstroemia spp.).

This rare plant is threatened by habitat destruction, mainly due to introduced grazing mammals.[2] It is limited to four populations with a total of 200 to 500 individuals;[2] this is sometimes described as one badly fragmented population.[1] Other threats include introduced plant species.[3] This has been a federally listed endangered species of the United States since 1992.[2]

References
  1. Bruegmann, M.M. & Caraway, V. (2003). "Canavalia molokaiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2003: e.T44120A10859774. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2003.RLTS.T44120A10859774.en.
  2. "Canavalia molokaiensis". CPC National Collection Plant Profiles. Center for Plant Conservation. 2008-07-22. Archived from the original on 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  3. The Nature Conservancy

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