Bog dubautia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bog dubautia |
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D. imbricata
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| Dubautia imbricata H.St.John & G.D.Carr
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The Dubautia imbricata is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the aster family. People often call it the bog dubautia or imbricate dubautia.
This special plant only grows in Hawaii. You can find it only on the island of Kauai. There are only four small groups of these plants left in the wild. Like other plants in its group, Hawaiians call it na`ena`e.
Contents
About the Bog Dubautia
This plant is part of a group called the silversword alliance. Scientists first found and described it in 1981. It was discovered in a rainforest on Kauai.
Where It Lives
The bog dubautia likes wet, boggy forest areas. It grows under larger ʻōhiʻa lehua trees. You can also find it among sedges, which are grass-like plants.
What It Looks Like
This plant is a shrub that grows in clumps. It can be up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. It can also spread out 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) wide.
Its leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. The leaves are about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) wide.
The plant has many small yellow flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called flower heads. Each cluster holds several tiny yellow blooms.
Subspecies and Protection
There are two types, or subspecies, of the bog dubautia. Both of these subspecies are very rare. One type, called ssp. imbricata, is especially protected.
In 2010, the United States government listed it as an endangered species. This means it is in danger of disappearing forever. Protecting these plants helps them survive.
Plant Hybrids
Sometimes, the bog dubautia can hybridize with other Dubautia plants. This means it can mix its genes with another type of Dubautia. When this happens, it creates a new plant that has traits from both parents.
