Four angle melicope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Four angle melicope |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melicope
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| Species: |
quadrangularis
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Melicope quadrangularis, also known as the four angle melicope or four-angled pelea, is a very rare plant that belongs to the Rutaceae family, which includes citrus fruits. This special plant is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning it grows naturally nowhere else in the world! Specifically, it is only found on the island of Kauai. Sadly, it is critically endangered, mostly because its natural home is being lost.
A Rare Hawaiian Plant
The four angle melicope is a unique part of Hawaii's amazing plant life. It's a small tree or shrub that gets its name from the shape of its stems or fruits, which might have four distinct angles. Being "endemic" means it has evolved over a very long time to fit perfectly into the environment of Kauai. This makes it super important to protect, as losing it would mean losing a piece of Hawaii's natural heritage forever.
A Story of Loss and Rediscovery
The story of the four angle melicope is quite dramatic! Scientists first collected a sample of this plant, called a type specimen, way back in 1909. After that, no one saw the plant for many years. People thought it had become extinct, meaning it had completely disappeared from Earth.
But then, in 1991, something amazing happened! The plant was rediscovered! Scientists found a small group of 13 plants. This was very exciting news, as it meant the four angle melicope was still alive.
However, this hopeful discovery didn't last long. By 1998, the small group of plants had vanished. It's believed they were destroyed by Hurricane Iniki, a powerful storm that hit Kauai in 1992. Since 2010, no more of these plants have been found in the wild. There are also no four angle melicope plants growing in special gardens or nurseries, and no seeds saved in seed banks. This makes its situation very serious. Still, there's a small hope that some plants might still be hidden in parts of Kauai that haven't been fully explored by scientists.
