Heller's schiedea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heller's schiedea |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Schiedea
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| Species: |
helleri
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The Schiedea helleri is a very rare flowering plant. It is also known as Heller's schiedea or Kaholuamanu schiedea. This special plant belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes many types of carnations. It grows only in Hawaii, specifically on the island of Kauai. Because there are so few of these plants left, it is considered an endangered species in the United States.
Contents
Discovering the Heller's Schiedea
What Makes This Plant Special?
The Heller's schiedea is a type of vine. It can grow at least 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Its leaves grow in pairs, one across from the other. These leaves are thick and can be up to 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) long and 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) wide. They usually feel smooth, with only a few tiny hairs near their edges.
This plant produces flowers in a branching cluster. What makes Schiedea helleri unique on Kauai is that it's the only Schiedea species there that grows as a vine. Other Schiedea plants on the island are not vines.
A Plant Thought to Be Lost
For a while, people believed that the Schiedea helleri had disappeared forever. This is called being extinct. However, in 1993, scientists were excited to find it again! This rediscovery gave hope for the plant's survival.
Where Does It Live?
The Heller's schiedea lives in a very specific type of environment. It prefers wet forest areas, often found near streams. These special spots are located at the edge of the Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve on Kauai. By the year 2010, only two groups of these plants were known to exist. Together, these two groups had about 101 plants in total. Protecting these small groups is very important to keep the species from disappearing again.
