Delissea subcordata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delissea subcordata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Delissea
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| Species: |
subcordata
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| Subspecies | |
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D. s. subsp. obtusifolia |
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Delissea subcordata is a very rare flowering plant from Hawaii. It's also known as the Koʻolau Range delissea or oha. This special plant belongs to the bellflower family. It is found only on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
What is Delissea subcordata?
This plant is a type of Hawaiian lobelioid. It grows as a shrub and can reach up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall. Its flowers can be white or greenish.
Where Does It Live?
Delissea subcordata is endemic to Hawaii. This means it naturally grows nowhere else in the world. It is currently found only in the Waianae Mountains on Oahu. Sadly, it used to grow in the Koʻolau Range too. But it is now extirpated from there. "Extirpated" means it's gone from that specific area, but it still exists elsewhere.
This plant likes to grow in moist forest habitats. Other plants that share its forest home include ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and koa (Acacia koa). These trees form the top layer, or canopy, of the forest. Below them, in the understory, you might find plants like Ēlama (Diospyros hillebrandii), papala kepau (Pisonia species), and ʻĀlaʻa (Pouteria sandwicensis).
Why is it Endangered?
As of 2008, there were only about 40 of these plants left in the wild. Only 28 of them were mature plants, meaning they could produce seeds. Because it is so rare, the United States government listed it as an endangered species in 1996. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
The main threats to this rare plant and its ecosystem are animals like feral goats and pigs. These animals can eat the plants or damage their habitat. Protecting these forests from such threats is important to help Delissea subcordata survive.
