Lysimachia pendens
Encyclopedia
Lysimachia pendens is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Myrsinaceae
known by the common name broadleaf yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii
, where there is a single occurrence known on the island of Kauai
. It was federally listed as an endangered species
of the United States in 2010.
This shrub
was described as a new species in 1997 when one population of Lysimachia filifolia
plants was determined to be different than the others and not part of that species. The leaves are wider and hairier than those of L. filifolia. This plant occurs at one location at the headwaters of the north fork of the Wailua River
of Kauai, where it grows alongside the newly described Lysimachia iniki
. The habitat is made up of wet, mossy cliffs.
This shrub has hanging branches, the new growth covered in tan hairs. The lance-shaped leaves are closely spaced on the branches and measure roughly 2 to 4 centimeters long by 2 to 4 millimeters wide. The flowers have green or red-tinged sepal
s and red petals each just under a centimeter in length.
The plant is threatened by the invasion
of introduced species
of plants in its habitat. Landslide
s have destroyed many of the plants.
There are only eight individuals of this species remaining.
Myrsinaceae
Myrsinaceae, or the Myrsine family, is a rather large family from the order Ericales. It consists of 35 genera and about 1000 species....
known by the common name broadleaf yellow loosestrife. 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 there is a single occurrence known on the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. It was federally listed as an 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 in 2010.
This 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...
was described as a new species in 1997 when one population of Lysimachia filifolia
Lysimachia filifolia
Lysimachia filifolia is a rare species of flowering plant in the Myrsinaceae known by the common name Wailua River yellow loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii, where there are two populations on Oahu and one on Kauai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.This is a small...
plants was determined to be different than the others and not part of that species. The leaves are wider and hairier than those of L. filifolia. This plant occurs at one location at the headwaters of the north fork of the Wailua River
Wailua River
The Wailuā River is a river on the island of Kauai in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is formed by the confluence of its North and South forks just west of Wailua and enters the Pacific Ocean at . It is the only navigable river in the Hawaiian Islands...
of Kauai, where it grows alongside the newly described Lysimachia iniki
Lysimachia iniki
Lysimachia iniki is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Myrsinaceae known by the common names Wailua River yellow loosestrife and Wailua River island-loosestrife. It is endemic to Hawaii, where there is only one known occurrence existing on the island of Kauai...
. The habitat is made up of wet, mossy cliffs.
This shrub has hanging branches, the new growth covered in tan hairs. The lance-shaped leaves are closely spaced on the branches and measure roughly 2 to 4 centimeters long by 2 to 4 millimeters wide. The flowers have green or red-tinged sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and red petals each just under a centimeter in length.
The plant is threatened by the invasion
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
of introduced 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...
of plants in its habitat. Landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s have destroyed many of the plants.
There are only eight individuals of this species remaining.