Melanthera waimeaensis

Melanthera waimeaensis (formerly Lipochaeta waimeaensis)[1] is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name Waimea Canyon nehe. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai.[2] It is federally listed as an endangered species of the United States.

Melanthera waimeaensis

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Subfamily:
Asteroideae
Tribe:
Heliantheae
Genus:
Melanthera
Species:
M. waimeaensis
Binomial name
Melanthera waimeaensis
(Sherff) W.L. Wagner & H. Rob.

This perennial herb produces daisylike yellow flower heads. It only grows on steep slopes along the rim of Waimea Canyon on Kauai, where there are about 180 plants remaining.[1]

The main threat to the species is the loss and degradation of its habitat. Most of the land on which it grows has been taken over by non-native plants.[2] It is also threatened by erosion caused by the activity of feral goats.[2] The plants are eaten by mice, rats, and the spittle bug Claspoptera xanthocephala.[1]

References
  1. USFWS. Lipochaeta waimeaensis Five-year Review. August 2010.
  2. Lipochaeta waimeaensis. The Nature Conservancy.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.