Cyrtandra heinrichii, known as ha'iwale or lava cyrtandra, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. It is found on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.[2][3]
| Cyrtandra heinrichii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Gesneriaceae |
| Genus: | Cyrtandra |
| Species: | C. heinrichii
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyrtandra heinrichii H. St. John
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Description edit
Cyrtandra heinrichii is a shrub that usually grows by waterfalls on walls of basalt. They are also found in shrubland and wet, tropical or sub-tropical forests dominated by Metrosideros. This species can usually be found with ferns at altitudes between 730m and 1,350m.[1]
This species is closely related to Cyrtandra wawrae.[4]
Conservation and threats edit
Cyrtandra heinrichii is listed as endangered by the IUCN.[1] It occupies an area of 10km2. There are estimated to be between 250 and 1,000 mature individuals left in the declining population, fragmented into 9 subpopulations.[1] Part of the species range lies within a Natural Area Reserve.[1]
Damage to the plant by slugs and rodents, habitat destruction from wild pigs, and invasive plants species all pose a serious threat to this taxon. These invasive species compete with lava cyrtandra for resources. Such plant species include, but are not exclusive to:[1]
- Erigeron karvinskianus
- Hedychium gardnerianum
- Clidemia hirta
- Cyathea cooperi
- Andropogon virginicus
- Rubus rosifolius
- Blechnum appendiculatum
- Pterolepis glomerata
- Erechtites valerianifolius
In addition, the decline of native bird and insect species has led to a decrease in pollination.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g Merlin Edmonds (National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii; David Lorence (National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii (2015-08-12). "ha'iwale, Cyrtandra heinrichii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ Wagner, Warren L.; Wood, Kenneth R.; Lorence, David H. (Spring 2001). "A New Species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands". Novon. 11 (1): 146. doi:10.2307/3393224. JSTOR 3393224.
- ^ "Plants Profile for Cyrtandra heinrichii (lava cyrtandra)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
- ^ Johnson, Melissa A.; Pillon, Yohan; Sakishima, Tomoko; Price, Donald K.; Stacy, Elizabeth A. (2019). "Multiple colonizations, hybridization and uneven diversification in Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) lineages on Hawai'i Island". Journal of Biogeography. 46 (6): 1178–1196. doi:10.1111/jbi.13567. ISSN 1365-2699. S2CID 145877685.