Geniostoma helleri, the Nā Pali coast labordia or Heller's labordia, is a rare species of flowering plant in the Loganiaceae family. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is found only on Kauai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other labordias, this plant is known as Kamakahala.[1]
Geniostoma helleri | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Loganiaceae |
Genus: | Geniostoma |
Species: | G. helleri
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Binomial name | |
Geniostoma helleri | |
Synonyms | |
Labordia helleri Sherff (1938) |
This is a shrub growing up to 4.5 meters tall. It may have climbing stems. The inflorescence is a cyme of 3 to 9 white or greenish yellow flowers.[2]
This species was once found throughout Kauai, but today there are only 10 populations totalling no more than 550 plants.[3] Most are within the Nā Pali Kona Forest Reserve and Kuia Natural Area Reserve.[3]
This plant is threatened by feral ungulates, such as wild boars, which damage habitat by causing erosion. The habitat is also experiencing the introduction of invasive species of plants.[2]
References
edit- ^ USFWS. Species List: Endangered Plants.
- ^ a b Labordia helleri. Archived 2002-11-27 at the Wayback Machine The Nature Conservancy.
- ^ a b USFWS. Determination of Endangered Status for 48 Species on Kauai and Designation of Critical Habitat; Final Rule. Federal Register April 13, 2010.