Shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lysimachia
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| Species: |
scopulensis
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The shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia scopulensis) is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the Primulaceae family. This plant is found only in Hawaii, specifically on the island of Kauai. It is so rare that it was added to the United States list of endangered species in 2010.
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What is the Shiny-Leaf Yellow Loosestrife?
This special plant is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It was first found in 1991 in a place called Kalalau Valley on Kauai. Scientists officially described it as a new species in 1997. The shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife likes to grow on steep cliffs.
What Does This Plant Look Like?
The shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife has branches that can be red or green. These branches can grow up to 75 centimeters (about 30 inches) long. Its leaves are close together and shaped like a spear or a slightly oval shape. The tips of the leaves are curved. They are a dark green color, but the main vein in the middle of the leaf and the leaf stem (called a petiole) might be red. The plant's flowers have red petals, and each petal is about one centimeter long. Sometimes, this plant can even mix its genes with another plant called Lysimachia glutinosa to create a hybrid.
How Many Shiny-Leaf Yellow Loosestrife Plants Are There?
Sadly, there are very few of these plants left. Scientists have found only two groups of them. Together, these two groups have no more than 30 individual plants in total. This makes it one of the rarest plants in the world!
What Threats Does This Plant Face?
The shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife is in danger because of two main things:
- New Plants: Other plants that are not native to Hawaii, called introduced species, are growing in the same areas. These new plants can take over the space and resources that the shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife needs to survive.
- Wild Goats: There are also wild goats, called feral goats, that roam around. These goats eat plants, and they can munch on the rare shiny-leaf yellow loosestrife, causing even more damage to the small populations.
