Abutilon menziesii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abutilon menziesii |
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Abutilon
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menziesii
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The Abutilon menziesii, also known as Koʻoloaʻula in Hawaiian, is a special type of flowering plant. It's a shrub that belongs to the mallow family, called Malvaceae. This plant is only found in Hawaii, which means it is endemic there. Sadly, it is an endangered species, meaning it's at high risk of disappearing forever.
This shrub can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 10 feet (about 3 meters). Its leaves feel soft and velvety. They can be small, about an inch wide, or larger, up to five inches wide. The flowers look a bit like small hibiscus flowers and usually hang downwards. Even though they are pretty up close, the large leaves can sometimes hide them.
Contents
What Does Koʻoloaʻula Look Like?
The Hawaiian name 'ula' often means red. However, the Koʻoloaʻula flowers come in many beautiful colors, not just red!
- Pink
- Pink and white
- Pale red
- Maroon
- Deep purplish-red (like wine)
- Salmon
- Blond or butter yellow
The middle part of the flower, called the staminal column, is usually yellowish.
How Does It Grow?
This plant usually grows from its seeds. The seed capsules are light brown and fuzzy. They are about 3/8 of an inch long and hold about 18 to 24 small, dark brown seeds.
Where Does Koʻoloaʻula Live?
The Koʻoloaʻula plant grows in Hawaiian tropical dry forests. These forests are found on the Hawaiian islands of Lānaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi.
Why Is This Plant Endangered?
The Koʻoloaʻula is listed as "critically endangered" by the IUCN Red List. This means it's very close to extinction. There are only about 450 to 500 of these plants left in the wild, spread across fewer than ten natural groups on the islands.
There are a few main reasons why this plant is so rare:
- Habitat Loss: Its natural home has been changed for farms and cities.
- Animals Eating Plants: Livestock and wild animals like goats eat the plants. This is called overgrazing.
- Invasive Weeds: Other plants, called weeds, that are not native to Hawaii grow quickly and take over the space and resources that Koʻoloaʻula needs.
Helping Koʻoloaʻula Survive
To protect this special plant, different groups are working together. Federal and state agencies have a plan to:
- Protect the places where the plants still grow.
- Start new groups of Koʻoloaʻula plants in safe areas.
- Save genetic material, like seeds, in special seed banks and botanical gardens. This helps make sure the plant's unique traits are not lost.
See also
In Spanish: Abutilon menziesii para niños
