Leafy ballart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leafy ballart |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Exocarpos
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| Species: |
luteolus
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Exocarpos luteolus, also known as the leafy ballart or heau, is a very special and rare plant. It belongs to the sandalwood family. This plant is found only in Hawaii, specifically on the island of Kauai. It's so rare that there are only about 39 individual plants left in the world, spread across eight small groups. Because it's so rare, the United States government listed it as an endangered species in 1994. This means it's in danger of disappearing forever if we don't protect it.
Contents
What Does the Leafy Ballart Look Like?
This unique plant is a shrub, which is like a small bush. It usually grows to be about one half to two meters tall. That's like half the height of a grown-up, or even taller!
Its Leaves
The leafy ballart has two kinds of leaves. Some are shaped like a spear or an oval and can be up to 8 centimeters long. Other leaves are much smaller, almost like tiny scales. Sometimes, a plant might only have these scale-like leaves, making it look like it doesn't have any leaves at all!
Its Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the leafy ballart are small and green. Each flower has six tiny petals, only about a millimeter long. After the flower blooms, it produces a yellow fruit. This fruit is called a drupe, and it's between 1 and 2 centimeters long.
Where Does the Leafy Ballart Live?
This rare plant can be found in a few different types of places on Kauai. It likes bogs, which are wet, marshy areas. It also grows on open ridges, which are high, narrow parts of hills. You can also find it in wet forests where the trees grow very close together.
Plant Neighbors
In the wet forests, the leafy ballart shares its home with other Hawaiian plants. These include ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha), uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis), koa (Acacia koa), kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa), and poʻola nui (Bidens cosmoides). In the boggy areas, it might live near plants like pa iniu (Astelia waialealae) and kanawao (Broussaisia arguta).
Why Is the Leafy Ballart Endangered?
The leafy ballart is very close to extinction, which means it could disappear forever. This is mainly because its home, or habitat, is being damaged.
Threats from Animals
One big problem comes from feral goats and pigs. These animals roam freely and eat the plants, destroying their habitat. Rats are also a problem because they eat the seeds of the leafy ballart, stopping new plants from growing.
Threats from Other Plants
Many invasive plant species are also taking over the leafy ballart's habitat. These are plants that are not native to Hawaii and grow very fast, pushing out the native plants. Some of these invaders include prickly blackberry (Rubus argutus), banana poka (Passiflora tarminiana), Santa Barbara daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), paii iha (Christella dentata), lantana (Lantana camara), and molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora). These invasive plants make it harder for the leafy ballart to survive and thrive.
