''Isodendrion pyrifolium'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the
violet family known by the common name ''wahine noho kula''. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
, where it is known only from the island of
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
.
[''Isodendrion pyrifolium'']
The Nature Conservancy. It is a federally listed
endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...
of the United States.
This is a
shrub
A shrub or 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 trees by their multiple ...
growing 0.8 to 2 meters tall and bearing greenish yellow flowers.
[
This shrub is thought to have occurred on at least 6 of the Hawaiian Islands.][ It was not seen after 1870 and was believed ]extinct
Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...
until 1991, when it was rediscovered in Hawaii. There was a population of about 60 plants near Kailua
Kailua () is a census-designated place (CDP) in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It lies in the Koolaupoko District of the island of Oahu on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. It is in the judicial district and the ahupua'a named Ko'ol ...
. By 2007 most of these had died, leaving only three wild specimens in existence. These are located in degraded dry forest habitat in an area undergoing development. A few more individuals have been planted in appropriate habitat nearby.[USFWS]
''I. pyrifolium'' Five-year Review.
January 2008.
The plants' habitat is threatened by development, and non-native plant species such as fountain grass (''Pennisetum setaceum''), which increases the risk of fire in the area.[
]
References
External links
''Isodendrion'' photo gallery
pyrifolium
Endemic flora of Hawaii
Taxa named by Asa Gray
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