The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a

tropical moist broadleaf forest Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forest, is a subtropical and tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Description TSMF is generally found in large, discon ...

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of ...

in the

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost ...

. They cover an area of in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands. Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to . Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of , while wet forests are found from . Moist

bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; a ...

s and

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It ...

s exist on montane

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...

s and depressions. For the 28 million years of existence of the Hawaiian Islands, they have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the conti ...

, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately fr ...

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta ('' sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and ...

es,

snail A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s, and other

wildlife Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunted ...

. In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, trees are draped with

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of floweri ...

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes exce ...

s, and mosses. This ecoregion includes one of the world's wettest places, the slopes of

Mount Waialeale Mount Waialeale is a shield volcano and the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Its name literally means "rippling water" or "overflowing water" The mountain, at an elevation of , averages more than of rain a ...

, which average of rainfall per year.

Coastal mesic forests

Coast The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in n ...

al mesic forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to . These forests have been dominated by the native hala ('' Pandanus tectorius'') and hau (''

Hibiscus tiliaceus ''Hibiscus tiliaceus'', commonly known as the sea hibiscus or coast cottonwood, is a species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae, with a pantropical distribution along coastlines. It has also been introduced to Florida and New ...

'') and naturalized ( Polynesian introductions) kukui ('' Aleurites moluccana'') and milo ('' Thespesia populnea'') for the past 1,000–2,000 years. The Polynesian-introduced noni (''

Morinda citrifolia ''Morinda citrifolia'' is a fruit-bearing tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Its native range extends across Southeast Asia and Australasia, and was spread across the Pacific by Polynesian sailors. The species is now cultivated throughout ...

''), pia ('' Tacca leontopetaloides''), and kī (''

Cordyline fruticosa ''Cordyline fruticosa'' is an evergreen flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. The plant is of great cultural importance to the traditional animistic religions of Austronesian and Papuan peoples of the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Isla ...

'') are also common in this zone. Other native species include pololei ('' Ophioglossum concinnum''), ākia (''

Wikstroemia ''Wikstroemia'' is a genus of 55-70 species of flowering shrubs and small trees in the mezereon family, Thymelaeaceae. Hawaiian species are known by the common name ‘ākia. Medicinal uses '' Wikstroemia indica'' () is one of the 50 fundamental ...

'' spp.), loulu fan palms (''

Pritchardia The genus ''Pritchardia'' (family Arecaceae) consists of between 24 and 40 species of fan palms (subfamily Coryphoideae) found on tropical Pacific Ocean islands in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuamotus, and most diversely in Hawaii. The generic ...

'' spp.), ōhia lehua (''

Metrosideros polymorpha ''Metrosideros polymorpha'', the ''ōhia lehua'', is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations ...

''), and lama (''

Diospyros sandwicensis ''Diospyros sandwicensis'' is a species of flowering tree in the ebony family, Ebenaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It belongs to the same genus as both persimmons and ebony. Its common name, ''lama'', also means enlightenment in Hawaiian. ' ...

'').

Mixed mesic forests

Mixed mesic forests, at on the windward slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount Lānaihale on Lānai, receive of rainfall annually and thus may not be true

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

s. The forest canopy, dominated by koa (''

Acacia koa ''Acacia koa'' or commonly known as koa is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu. Name The name ...

'') and ōhia lehua (''

''), is somewhat open, but tree density is rather high. Other trees and shrubs include pāpala (''

Charpentiera obovata ''Charpentiera obovata'', known as broadleaf pāpala, is a species of flowering A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological fu ...

''), olopua (''

Nestegis sandwicensis ''Nestegis sandwicensis'', commonly known as Hawai'i olive or ''olopua'', is a species of flowering tree in the olive family, Oleaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is found on all major islands at elevations of in coastal mesic and mixed me ...

''), hame ('' Antidesma platyphyllum''), mēhame ('' A. pulvinatum''), kōpiko ('' Psychotria mariniana''), ōpiko ('' P. mauiensis''), iliahi ('' Santalum freycinetianum''), hōlei ('' Ochrosia'' spp.), poolā ('' Claoxylon sandwicense''), kōlea lau nui ('' Myrsine lessertiana''), kauila (''

Alphitonia ponderosa ''Alphitonia ponderosa'' is a species of flowering tree in the family Rhamnaceae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is locally known as ''kauila'', as is the related '' Colubrina oppositifolia''. Description ''Alphitonia ponderosa'' i ...

''), nioi ('' Eugenia reinwardtiana''), aiai ('' Streblus pendulinus''), and hōawa ('' Pittosporum'' spp.).

Wet forests

Wet forests generally occur from , but may be as low as . They receive of rain per year. Ōhia lehua (''

'') is the dominant canopy species in wet forests, but koa (''

'') is also very common. Other trees include kāwau ('' Ilex anomala''), alani ('' Melicope clusiifolia''), ōhia ha (''

Syzygium sandwicensis ''Syzygium sandwicense'' is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. Common names include Ōhia ha, Hā, and Pāihi. It is normally a large tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of ...

''), kōlea lau nui ('' Myrsine lessertiana''), ohe (''

Tetraplasandra ''Tetraplasandra'' is a no longer recognised genus of plants in the ivy family, Araliaceae. They are small to medium trees, (rarely shrubs or large trees) of mesic to wet forests.Porter P. Lowry II. 1990. "Araliaceae", pages 224-237. In: Warr ...

'' spp.), and olomea ('' Perrottetia sandwicensis'') as well as hāpuu (''

Cibotium ''Cibotium'' (from Greek , ''kibṓtion'', "little chest" or "box"), also known as manfern, is a genus of 11 species of tropical tree ferns. It is the only genus in family Cibotiaceae in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PP ...

'' tree ferns). Apeape ('' Gunnera petaloidea''), oha wai ('' Clermontia'' spp.), hāhā ('' Cyanea'' spp.), kāmakahala ('' Labordia hirtella''), kanawao ('' Broussaisia arguta''), '' Phyllostegia'' spp., ākala ('' Rubus hawaiensis''), kāmanamana ('' Adenostemma lavenia''), '' Pilea peploides'', māmaki ('' Pipturus albidus''), olonā ('' Touchardia latifolia''), and alaala wai nui ('' Peperomia'' spp.) are common understory plants.

Vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

s include maile ('' Alyxia oliviformis'') and hoi kuahiwi ('' Smilax melastomifolia''). Iei.e. (''

Freycinetia arborea ''Freycinetia arborea'', ''Ieie'', is a densely branched, brittle, woody climber in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to the Pacific Islands. ''Ieie'' is found in moist forest on the Hawaiian, Marquesas, Austral, Society, and Cook Islands. I ...

''), puaakuhinia (''

Astelia ''Astelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the recently named family Asteliaceae. They are rhizomatous tufted perennials native to various islands in the Pacific, Indian, and South Atlantic Oceans, as well as to Australia and to the sout ...

menziesiana'') and ōlapa ('' Cheirodendron trigynum'') are epiphytic

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...

s found in wet forests. Epiphytic

s, such as '' Adenophorus'' spp., ohiaku ('' Hymenophyllum recurvum''), '' Ophioglossum

pendulum A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward th ...

'', ākaha (''

Asplenium nidus :''See bird's-nest fern for other plants with this common name.'' ''Asplenium nidus'' is an epiphytic species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii (''ʻēkaha'' in Hawaiian), Poly ...

''), ēkaha ('' Elaphoglossum hirtum''), and makue lau lii (''

Grammitis ''Grammitis'' (dwarf polypody) is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Grammitidoideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). It had formerly been placed in the family Grammiti ...

hookeri''), cover trees. Epyphytic

es include '' Acroporium fuscoflavum'', ''

Rhizogonium ''Rhizogonium'' is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Rhizogoniaceae. The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species: *''Rhizogonium alpestre'' *''Rhizogonium bifarium'' *''Rhizogonium distichum'' *''Rhizogonium dozyanum'' ...

spiniforme'', and ''

Macromitrium ''Macromitrium'' is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Orthotrichaceae. The species of this genus are found predominantly in Southern Hemisphere. Species: * '' Macromitrium acuminatum'' (Reinw. & Hornsch.) Müll.Hal. * '' Macromitriu ...

owahiense''. Loulu fan palms (''

'' spp.) may tower over the forest canopy.

Bogs

Bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; a ...

s are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage. Dominant vegetation in bogs are

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from tree ...

s, sedges, and

grasses Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns ...

. Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks. '' Carex'' spp., '' Oreobolus furcatus'', and ''

Rhynchospora ''Rhynchospora'' (beak-rush or beak-sedge) is a genus of about 400 species of sedges with a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes both annual and perennial species, mostly with erect 3-sided stems and 3-ranked leaves. The achenes bear ...

rugosa'' are common sedges, shrubs include ōhelo kau laau ('' Vaccinium calycinum'') and ōhelo ('' V. dentatum''), while grasses are represented by '' Dichanthelium'' spp. and ''

Deschampsia ''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.

nubigena''. Dwarf varieties of ōhia lehua (''

'' vars. ''incana'' and ''glabriofolia'') are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs. The

s wāwaeiole (''

Lycopodiella cernua ''Lycopodiella'' is a genus in the clubmoss family Lycopodiaceae. The genus members are commonly called bog clubmosses, describing their wetland habitat. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with centers of diversity in the tropical New Wor ...

''), amau ('' Sadleria'' spp.), and uluhe (''

Dicranopteris linearis ''Dicranopteris linearis'' is a common species of fern known by many common names, including Old World forked fern, ''uluhe'' ( Hawaiian), and ''dilim'' ( Filipino). It is one of the most widely distributed ferns of the wet Old World tropics and ...

'') grow in bogs. Rare plants include liliwai ('' Acaena exigua''), naenae (''

Dubautia ''Dubautia'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. The genus was named after Joseph Eugène DuBaut (1796-1832), an officer in the French Navy who participated in Freycinet's expedition. The entire genus is endemic to Hawaii. I ...

'' spp.), and '' Argyroxiphium'' spp.

References

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External links