Phyllostegia hispida, the hispid phyllostegia,[1] is an endangered species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is found only in wet forests at elevations of 2,300–4,200 feet (700–1,280 m) on the island of Molokaʻi in Hawaiʻi. This green vine's loosely spreading branches often form a large mass.[2]
Phyllostegia hispida | |
---|---|
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Phyllostegia |
Species: | P. hispida
|
Binomial name | |
Phyllostegia hispida |
Conservation
editOnly ten individual specimens were found between 1910 and 1996. P. hispida was thought to be extinct in 1997, but two seedlings were found at The Nature Conservancy's Kamakou Preserve in 2005. Since 2007, 24 wild plants have been discovered. A total of 238 plants are known to currently exist.
Phyllostegia hispida was classified as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 2009. P. hispida is the second species to be classified as endangered by the Barack Obama administration.[2]
References
edit- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Phyllostegia hispida". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ a b McAvoy, Audrey (2009-03-17). "Rare vine in Hawaii designated endangered species". Center for Biological Diversity. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-03-20.