Kauai geranium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kauai geranium |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Geranium
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| Species: |
kauaiense
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The Geranium kauaiense is a very rare plant. It is often called the Kauai geranium. This special plant only grows on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. This means it is endemic to Kauai.
In 2010, the U.S. government listed it as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. Like other geraniums in Hawaii, people also call it hinahina and nohoanu.
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About the Kauai Geranium
The Kauai geranium is a small, woody plant. It is a type of subshrub. Its stems can grow up to one meter (about three feet) long.
What Does it Look Like?
This plant has small groups of flowers. These groups are called an inflorescence. Each group usually has three or four flowers. The petals are white with pretty purple stripes.
Where Does it Grow?
The Kauai geranium lives in wet forests and bogs. A bog is a very wet, marshy area. Most of these plants are found in the Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve on Kauai. There are only about 140 plants left there.
A few plants, just three, also grow at the top of Mount Waialeale. This mountain is one of the rainiest places on Earth!
Why is it in Danger?
The main problem for the Kauai geranium is its home. Its habitat is being damaged. This damage is mostly caused by feral pigs. These wild pigs can also eat the plants.
Other plants that are not native to Hawaii are also a problem. These non-native plants invade the geranium's habitat. They take up space and resources. Examples include Juncus planifolius and Andropogon virginicus.
How Are People Helping?
People are working to protect this rare plant. One way they help is by building fences. These fences go around the bog areas where the geraniums grow. This helps keep the wild pigs away from the plants. Protecting the habitat is very important for the survival of the Kauai geranium.
