Cyrtandra heinrichii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Gesneriaceae
Genus: Cyrtandra
Species:
C. heinrichii
Binomial name
Cyrtandra heinrichii
H. St. John

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]

Description

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

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]

In addition, the decline of native bird and insect species has led to a decrease in pollination.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Plants Profile for Cyrtandra heinrichii (lava cyrtandra)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  4. ↑ 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.
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