Kadua degeneri
Encyclopedia
Kadua degeneri is a rare species of flowering plant in the coffee family
known by the common names Waianae Range starviolet and Degener's bluet. It is endemic to Hawaii
, where it is known only from the island of Oahu
. There are four known populations totalling 370 individuals. It is a federally listed endangered species
of the United States.
This is a branching shrub
with clusters of flowers. The plant is limited to the Waianae Range
on Oahu. It grows on cliffs and ridges in forested mountain habitat. The main threat to its existence is the degradation and destruction of its habitat by feral
ungulate
s such as pigs. The animals have been a vector for the introduction of alien plant species
, which compete with native flora.
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
known by the common names Waianae Range starviolet and Degener's bluet. It is endemic to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where it is known only from the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. There are four known populations totalling 370 individuals. It is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This is a branching shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
with clusters of flowers. The plant is limited to the Waianae Range
Waianae Range
Waianae Range is the eroded remains of an ancient shield volcano that comprises the western half of the Hawaiian Island of Oahu...
on Oahu. It grows on cliffs and ridges in forested mountain habitat. The main threat to its existence is the degradation and destruction of its habitat by feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
ungulate
Ungulate
Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...
s such as pigs. The animals have been a vector for the introduction of alien plant species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
, which compete with native flora.