Mann's bluegrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mann's bluegrass |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Poa
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| Species: |
mannii
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Poa mannii is a very rare type of grass that has a couple of common names: Mann's bluegrass and Olokele Gulch bluegrass. This special grass is found only in Hawaii, specifically on the island of Kauai. It is considered an endangered species by the United States government. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
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Where This Rare Grass Lives
Poa mannii is found only on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It grows in very specific places. You can find it on steep slopes and wet cliffs. These areas are often covered in forests. The main trees in these forests are Metrosideros polymorpha (called ohia lehua) and Acacia koa (koa).
There are only about 13 known groups of this grass left. Together, they add up to around 100 individual plants. This small number makes it very vulnerable.
Why Poa mannii is in Danger
Several things threaten Poa mannii and its home. One of the biggest problems is feral goats. These are goats that have escaped farms and now live wild. They eat the grass and other plants, destroying the habitat. The fact that Poa mannii mostly grows in hard-to-reach places, like steep cliffs, suggests that goats might have already eaten it from easier-to-reach areas.
Other Threats to the Grass
- Introduced plants: Other plants brought to Hawaii from different parts of the world can take over the space where Poa mannii grows. They can also use up the water and nutrients the grass needs.
- Fire: Wildfires can quickly destroy large areas of habitat.
- Hurricanes: Powerful storms can cause a lot of damage to the cliffs and forests where the grass lives.
- Landslides: When parts of the steep slopes collapse, they can wipe out entire groups of Poa mannii.
Other Plants in the Habitat
The forests where Poa mannii lives are home to many other unique Hawaiian plants. Some of these include:
- ahinahina (Artemisia australis)
- kookoolau (Bidens sandwicensis)
- iliau (Wilkesia gymnoxiphium)
- emoloa (Eragrostis variabilis)
- haiwale (Crytandra wawrae)
- heau (Exocarpos luteolus)
- kamakahala (Labordia helleri)
- kului (Nototrichium sp.)
- manono (Hedyotis terminalis)
- mokihana (Melicope anisata)
- pelea (Melicope barbigera)
- alaa (Pouteria sandwicensis)
- lama (Diospyros sandwicensis)
- kopiko (Psychotria mariniana)
- Kaua’i wild coffee (Psychotria greenwelliae)
- kokio (Kokia kauaiensis)
All these plants are part of the special ecosystem that Poa mannii calls home. Protecting this rare grass means protecting its entire habitat and all the other unique species that live there.
