Remya kauaiensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Remya kauaiensis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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Astereae
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| Genus: |
Remya
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| Species: |
R. kauaiensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Remya kauaiensis Hillebr.
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The Remya kauaiensis is a very rare flowering plant from the aster family. People often call it the Kauai remya. This special plant only grows in Hawaii, specifically on the island of Kauai. It is in danger because its home is being damaged. The United States government lists it as an endangered species, meaning it's at risk of disappearing forever.
Contents
About the Kauai Remya Plant
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a shrub that usually grows to be about 90 centimeters (3 feet) tall. However, it can sometimes reach up to 4 meters (13 feet) in height. It has many branches that spread out like vines, and their tips feel a bit fuzzy.
The leaves of the Kauai remya have small teeth along their edges. The top side of the leaves is green, while the underside is covered in soft, white hairs. Its flowers grow in a group called an inflorescence, which looks like a cluster of flower heads.
Insects probably help to pollinate the flowers, which means they help the plant make seeds. After the seeds are made, they are likely spread by the wind or by water.
Where Does It Live?
The Kauai remya is one of only three species in the Remya plant group. All three Remya species are found only in Hawaii. This particular species, R. kauaiensis, is one of two Remya plants that live only on the island of Kauai.
For a while, people thought this plant had completely disappeared. But luckily, it was found again in the 1980s! In 2003, scientists counted only 17 groups of these plants, with no more than 114 individual plants in total.
These small groups of plants live in different valleys and canyons on Kauai. They often grow on steep canyon walls and in gulches (small, narrow valleys). You might find them on slopes that face north, or sometimes near rivers and waterfalls.
The Kauai remya usually grows in forests. These forests are often filled with koa and ohia trees. Other plants that share this habitat include kauila, maile, ahakea lau lii, akoko, laukea, uki uki, uluhe, aalii, manono, pukiawe, uahiapele, kolea, olopua, and alaa.
Why Is It Endangered?
Many things threaten the Kauai remya and make it hard for the plant to survive. One big problem is the destruction of its habitat. This damage is often caused by introduced species of animals like feral pigs, feral goats, cattle, and deer. These animals were brought to Hawaii by people and can eat or trample the native plants.
Invasive plant species are also a threat. These are plants that are not native to Hawaii but have spread and taken over areas where the Kauai remya lives. They include plants like narrow-leaved carpetgrass, hammock fern, airplant, daisy fleabane, blackberry, silk oak, lantana, banana poka, Kahili ginger, sourbush, and basketgrass.
Other dangers include erosion (when soil washes away) and fires. Because there are so few Kauai remya plants left, one big event, like a strong hurricane, could wipe out many of them. This makes the plant very vulnerable to extinction.
Helping This Plant Survive
People are working to protect the Kauai remya. One important effort is collecting its seeds and storing them safely. This way, if the plants in the wild disappear, there will still be seeds to grow new ones. They also work on growing new seedlings (young plants) from these seeds. These new plants can then be planted back into safe areas in the wild.
