Plantainleaf dubautia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plantainleaf dubautia |
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| ssp. plantaginea on Maui | |
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D. plantaginea
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| Dubautia plantaginea Gaudich.
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Dubautia plantaginea is a special flowering plant often called the plantainleaf dubautia. It belongs to the aster family, which includes daisies and sunflowers. This plant is unique because it grows only in Hawaii. It's the only plant from a group called the silversword alliance that you can find on all six of Hawaii's biggest islands: Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui, and Hawai'i. Locals also call this plant na`ena`e.
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About the Plantainleaf Dubautia
This amazing plant can look very different! It might be a small shrub or grow into a tree as tall as 7 meters (about 23 feet). That's like a two-story building!
Different Types of Plantainleaf Dubautia
There are three main types, or subspecies, of Dubautia plantaginea. Two of these types are very rare and are considered endangered.
- The dwarf type, called ssp. humilis, is found only on Maui. There's only one small group of these plants left, with about 50 of them. This type was officially protected as an endangered species in 1999.
- The ssp. magnifolia type is a shrub or a tree that grows only on Kaua'i. There are no more than two groups of these plants remaining. It was listed as endangered in 2010.
Where Plantainleaf Dubautia Lives
These plants love to grow in moist and wet forest areas. They need a lot of rain, from about 75 to over 700 centimeters (30 to 275 inches) of rain each year!
Why Plantainleaf Dubautia Is in Danger
Many things threaten this special plant and its home.
- Natural events like landslides, rockslides, erosion, and flooding can harm them.
- Invasive plant species are also a big problem. These are plants that are not native to Hawaii and can take over the space and resources that Dubautia plantaginea needs. One example is Hilo grass.
- The ssp. magnifolia type was badly damaged by Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
