Pele clermontia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pele clermontia |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Clermontia
|
| Species: |
peleana
|
Clermontia peleana is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. People often call it Pele clermontia. It is also known as `oha wai in Hawaii. This plant is special because it grows naturally only on the island of Hawaii. This means it is endemic to that island. Only a few of these plants are left in the wild. Because it is so rare, the United States government has listed it as an endangered species. This means it is protected by law.
Contents
What is Pele Clermontia?
The Pele clermontia is a type of Hawaiian lobelioids. These are unique plants found only in Hawaii. The plant is part of the Clermontia group. It has beautiful flowers, like other bellflower plants. Finding this plant in nature is very special because there are so few of them left.
Two Types of Pele Clermontia
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Pele clermontia. Each subspecies has its own story of survival. Scientists work hard to protect both of them.
The Peleana Subspecies
For a long time, scientists thought only one type of Pele clermontia was still alive. This was the peleana subspecies. When it was first listed as endangered, there were only eight wild plants left. Sadly, the very last of these eight plants died in the year 2000. After that, only one plant of this type was known to exist. It was growing in a special garden.
Scientists and plant experts worked hard to save it. They tried to grow new plants from the seeds of that one plant. These efforts were successful! Many young plants, called seedlings, were grown. These seedlings were then carefully moved back to their natural home. By 2007, one of these new plants had grown big enough to flower. This was a big step in helping the peleana subspecies survive.
The Singuliflora Subspecies
The other type, called the singuliflora subspecies, was thought to be gone forever. It was last seen on the island of Hawaii in 1909. Then, it was spotted on the island of Maui in 1920. After that, no one saw it for many years. Because of this, it was listed as Critically Endangered. This is the highest level of danger for a species.
But in the summer of 2010, something amazing happened! Several singuliflora plants were found growing in the forests of the Hawaiian volcano Kohala. This was exciting because no one had ever seen this plant in Kohala before. The plants were healthy and making new seeds. Scientists quickly collected these seeds. They plan to grow more plants from them. This discovery gives hope that the singuliflora subspecies can also be saved.
Why is it Important to Protect Clermontia peleana?
Protecting plants like the Pele clermontia is very important. Each plant plays a role in its ecosystem. When a species disappears, it can affect other plants and animals. Saving these rare plants helps keep the natural world healthy and balanced. It also preserves the unique beauty of Hawaii's nature for future generations.
