The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...

in the

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...

. They cover an area of in the

windward Windward () and leeward () are terms used to describe the direction of the wind. Windward is ''upwind'' from the point of reference, i.e. towards the direction from which the wind is coming; leeward is ''downwind'' from the point of reference ...

lowlands and

montane Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial ...

regions of the islands. Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to . Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of , while wet forests are found from . Moist bogs and shrublands exist on montane

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...

s and depressions. For the 28 million years of existence of the Hawaiian Islands, they have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...

, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

, mosses,

snail A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class G ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s, and other

wildlife Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunted ...

. In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, trees are draped with

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowerin ...

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes exce ...

s, and mosses. This ecoregion includes one of the world's wettest places, the slopes of

Mount Waialeale Mount Waialeale is a shield volcano and the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Its name literally means "rippling water" or "overflowing water" The mountain, at an elevation of , averages more than of rain ...

, which average of rainfall per year.

Coastal mesic forests

Coast The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in ...

al mesic forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to . These forests have been dominated by the native hala (''

Pandanus tectorius ''Pandanus tectorius'' is a species of ''Pandanus'' (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean. Common names in English incl ...

'') and hau (''

Hibiscus tiliaceus ''Hibiscus tiliaceus'', commonly known as the sea hibiscus or coast cottonwood, is a species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae, with a pantropical distribution along coastlines. It has also been introduced to Florida and New Zea ...

'') and naturalized ( Polynesian introductions) kukui (''

Aleurites moluccana ''Aleurites moluccanus'', the candlenut, is a flowering tree in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, also known as candleberry, Indian walnut, ''kemiri'', varnish tree, ''nuez de la India'', ''buah keras'', ''godou'', kukui nut tree, and ''rata ke ...

'') and milo (''

Thespesia populnea ''Thespesia populnea'', commonly known as the portia tree (), Pacific rosewood, Indian tulip tree, or milo, among other names, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a tree found commonly on coasts ar ...

'') for the past 1,000–2,000 years. The Polynesian-introduced noni (''

Morinda citrifolia ''Morinda citrifolia'' is a fruit-bearing tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Its native range extends across Southeast Asia and Australasia, and was spread across the Pacific by Polynesian sailors. The species is now cultivated throughout th ...

''), pia (''

Tacca leontopetaloides ''Tacca leontopetaloides'' is a species of flowering plant in the yam family Dioscoreaceae. It is native to Island Southeast Asia but have been introduced as canoe plants throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics by Austronesian peoples during preh ...

''), and kī ('' Cordyline fruticosa'') are also common in this zone. Other native species include pololei (''

Ophioglossum ''Ophioglossum'', the adder's-tongue ferns, is a genus of about 50 species of ferns in the family Ophioglossaceae. The name ''Ophioglossum'' comes from the Greek meaning "snake-tongue".

concinnum''), ākia (''

Wikstroemia ''Wikstroemia'' is a genus of 55-70 species of flowering shrubs and small trees in the mezereon family, Thymelaeaceae. Hawaiian species are known by the common name ‘ākia. Medicinal uses '' Wikstroemia indica'' () is one of the 50 fundament ...

'' spp.), loulu fan palms ('' Pritchardia'' spp.), ōhia lehua (''

Metrosideros polymorpha ''Metrosideros polymorpha'', the ''ōhia lehua'', is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations ...

''), and lama (''

Diospyros sandwicensis ''Diospyros sandwicensis'' is a species of flowering tree in the ebony family, Ebenaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It belongs to the same genus as both persimmons and ebony. Its common name, ''lama'', also means enlightenment in Hawaiian. ...

'').

Mixed mesic forests

Mixed mesic forests, at on the

slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount Lānaihale on Lānai, receive of rainfall annually and thus may not be true rainforests. The forest

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an ...

, dominated by koa (''

Acacia koa ''Acacia koa'' or commonly known as koa is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu. Name The name ...

'') and ōhia lehua (''

''), is somewhat open, but tree density is rather high. Other trees and shrubs include pāpala ('' Charpentiera obovata''), olopua ('' Nestegis sandwicensis''), hame (''

Antidesma platyphyllum ''Antidesma platyphyllum'' is a species of flowering tree in the leafflower family, Phyllanthaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. Common names include ''hame'', ''haā'', ''mehame'', ''hamehame'', ''mēhamehame'', and ''haāmaile''. It inhabits co ...

''), mēhame ('' A. pulvinatum''), kōpiko ('' Psychotria mariniana''), ōpiko ('' P. mauiensis''), iliahi (''

Santalum freycinetianum ''Santalum freycinetianum'', the forest sandalwood, Freycinet sandalwood, or ''Iliahi'', is a species of flowering tree in the European mistletoe family, Santalaceae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Its binomial name commemorates Henr ...

''), hōlei (''

Ochrosia ''Ochrosia'' is a genus of flowering plants, first described in 1789. It is in the family Apocynaceae, native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and various islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. ;Species # '' Ochrosia ackeringae'' – Indonesia ...

'' spp.), poolā (''

Claoxylon ''Claoxylon'' is a flowering plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, comprising dioecious subshrubs to small trees. It was first described as a genus in 1824. The genus is distributed in paleotropical areas: Madagascar through South and ...

sandwicense''), kōlea lau nui ('' Myrsine lessertiana''), kauila ('' Alphitonia ponderosa''), nioi (''

Eugenia reinwardtiana ''Eugenia reinwardtiana'' (Chamorro: a'abang) is a shrub to small tree in the family Myrtaceae, (Native to tropical forests in northern Queensland, Australia; Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands). Also known as the Cedar Bay cherry. Other common ...

''), aiai ('' Streblus pendulinus''), and hōawa (''

Pittosporum ''Pittosporum'' ( or ) is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Pittosporaceae. The genus is probably Gondwanan in origin; its present range extends from Australasia, Oceania, eastern Asia and some parts of Africa. ''Cit ...

'' spp.).

Wet forests

Wet forests generally occur from , but may be as low as . They receive of rain per year. Ōhia lehua (''

'') is the dominant

species in wet forests, but koa (''

'') is also very common. Other trees include kāwau (''

Ilex anomala ''Ilex anomala'', commonly known as Hawai'i holly, kāwau or aiea, is a species of holly that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits mixed mesic and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. References External links Trees of Hawai ...

''), alani (''

Melicope ''Melicope'' is a genus of about 240 species of shrubs and trees in the family Rutaceae, occurring from the Hawaiian Islands across the Pacific Ocean to tropical Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Plants in the genus ''Melicope'' have simple or ...

clusiifolia''), ōhia ha ('' Syzygium sandwicensis''), kōlea lau nui ('' Myrsine lessertiana''), ohe (''

Tetraplasandra ''Tetraplasandra'' is a no longer recognised genus of plants in the ivy family, Araliaceae. They are small to medium trees, (rarely shrubs or large trees) of mesic to wet forests.Porter P. Lowry II. 1990. "Araliaceae", pages 224-237. In: Warren ...

'' spp.), and olomea (''

Perrottetia ''Perrottetia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dipentodontaceae described as a family in 1824. Species occur in China, Southeast Asia, Papuasia, Hawaii, Australia, and Latin America. It is the largest genus of the recently describ ...

sandwicensis'') as well as hāpuu (''

Cibotium ''Cibotium'' (from Greek , ''kibṓtion'', "little chest" or "box"), also known as manfern, is a genus of 11 species of tropical tree ferns. It is the only genus in family Cibotiaceae in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 ( ...

tree fern The tree ferns are arborescent (tree-like) ferns that grow with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level, making them trees. Many extant tree ferns are members of the order Cyatheales, to which belong the families Cyatheaceae (scaly tree ...

s). Apeape (''

Gunnera ''Gunnera'' is the sole genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Gunneraceae, which contains 63 species. Some species in this genus, namely those in the subgenus ''Panke'', have extremely large leaves. Species in the genus are various ...

petaloidea''), oha wai (''

Clermontia The Hawaiian lobelioids are a group of flowering plants in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, subfamily Lobelioideae, all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This is the largest plant radiation in the Hawaiian Islands, and indeed t ...

'' spp.), hāhā ('' Cyanea'' spp.), kāmakahala ('' Labordia hirtella''), kanawao (''

Broussaisia arguta ''Broussaisia arguta'', the kanawao, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the ''Hydrangea'' family, Hydrangeaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is the only species in the monotypic genus ''Broussaisia''. Kanawao is a widespread speci ...

''), ''

Phyllostegia ''Phyllostegia'' is a genus of flowering plant in the Mentha, mint family, Lamiaceae, first described in 1840. It is native to certain islands in the Pacific Islands, Pacific (Hawaii, Tonga and the Society Islands, although it appears to be extin ...

'' spp., ākala (''

Rubus hawaiensis ''Rubus hawaiensis'', also called the ''Ākala'', is one of two species (with '' R. macraei'') commonly known as Hawaiian raspberry, endemic to Hawaii. It is found on the islands of Kauai, Molokai, Maui, O'ahu, and Hawaii in mesic to wet for ...

''), kāmanamana ('' Adenostemma lavenia''), ''

Pilea ''Pilea'', with 600–715 species, is the largest genus of flowering plants in the nettle family Urticaceae. It is distributed throughout the tropics, subtropics, and warm temperate regions (with the exception of Australia and New Zealand). Des ...

peploides'', māmaki (''

Pipturus albidus ''Pipturus albidus'', known as ''māmaki'' (sometimes ''waimea'', for its resemblance to olomea) in Hawaiian and known as Waimea pipturus in English, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family, Urticaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. ...

''), olonā ('' Touchardia latifolia''), and alaala wai nui (''

Peperomia ''Peperomia'' is one of the two large genera of the family Piperaceae. It is estimated that there are at least over 1,000 species, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are concentrated in northern South America an ...

'' spp.) are common

understory In forestry and ecology, understory (American English), or understorey (Commonwealth English), also known as underbrush or undergrowth, includes plant life growing beneath the forest canopy without penetrating it to any great extent, but abo ...

plants.

Vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

s include maile (''

Alyxia oliviformis ''Alyxia stellata'', known as ''maile'' in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, ''Apocynaceae'', that is native to Hawaii. It grows as either a twining liana, scandent shrub, or small erect shrub, and is one of the ...

'') and hoi kuahiwi (''

Smilax ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing flowering ...

melastomifolia''). Iei.e. (''

Freycinetia arborea ''Freycinetia arborea'', ''Ieie'', is a densely branched, brittle, woody climber in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to the Pacific Islands. ''Ieie'' is found in moist forest on the Hawaiian, Marquesas, Austral, Society, and Cook Islands. ...

''), puaakuhinia (''

Astelia ''Astelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the recently named family Asteliaceae. They are rhizomatous tufted perennials native to various islands in the Pacific, Indian, and South Atlantic Oceans, as well as to Australia and to the southern ...

menziesiana'') and ōlapa (''

Cheirodendron trigynum ''Cheirodendron trigynum'', also known as ''Ōlapa'' or common cheirodendron, is a species of flowering plant in the ginseng family, Araliaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of ...

'') are

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s found in wet forests. Epiphytic

s, such as ''

Adenophorus ''Adenophorus'' is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Grammitidoideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The genus is endemic to Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) ...

'' spp., ohiaku (''

Hymenophyllum ''Hymenophyllum'' is a genus of ferns in the family Hymenophyllaceae. Its name means "membranous leaf", referring to the very thin translucent tissue of the fronds, which gives rise to the common name filmy fern for this and other thin-leaved fern ...

recurvum''), ''

Ophioglossum ''Ophioglossum'', the adder's-tongue ferns, is a genus of about 50 species of ferns in the family Ophioglossaceae. The name ''Ophioglossum'' comes from the Greek meaning "snake-tongue".

pendulum A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward th ...

'', ākaha (''

Asplenium nidus :''See bird's-nest fern for other plants with this common name.'' ''Asplenium nidus'' is an epiphytic species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii (''ʻēkaha'' in Hawaiian), Poly ...

''), ēkaha ('' Elaphoglossum hirtum''), and makue lau lii (''

Grammitis ''Grammitis'' (dwarf polypody) is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae, subfamily Grammitidoideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). It had formerly been placed in the family Grammitidace ...

hookeri''), cover trees. Epyphytic mosses include '' Acroporium fuscoflavum'', '' Rhizogonium spiniforme'', and ''

Macromitrium ''Macromitrium'' is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Orthotrichaceae. The species of this genus are found predominantly in Southern Hemisphere. Species: * '' Macromitrium acuminatum'' (Reinw. & Hornsch.) Müll.Hal. * '' Macromitriu ...

owahiense''. Loulu fan palms ('' Pritchardia'' spp.) may tower over the forest canopy.

Bogs

Bogs are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage. Dominant vegetation in bogs are shrubs,

sedges The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' wit ...

, and

grasses Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns ...

. Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks. ''

Carex ''Carex'' is a vast genus of more than 2,000 species of grass-like plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges (or seg, in older books). Other members of the family Cyperaceae are also called sedges, however those of genus ''Carex'' ...

'' spp., ''

Oreobolus ''Oreobolus'' is a genus of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel ...

furcatus'', and '' Rhynchospora

rugosa The rugosa, also called the tetracorallia or horn coral, are an extinct order of solitary and colonial corals that were abundant in Middle Ordovician to Late Permian seas. Solitary rugosans (e.g., '' Caninia'', '' Lophophyllidium'', '' Neoza ...

'' are common sedges, shrubs include ōhelo kau laau (''

Vaccinium ''Vaccinium'' is a common and widespread genus of shrubs or dwarf shrubs in the heath family (Ericaceae). The fruits of many species are eaten by humans and some are of commercial importance, including the cranberry, blueberry, bilberry (whort ...

calycinum'') and ōhelo ('' V. dentatum''), while grasses are represented by ''

Dichanthelium ''Dichanthelium'' is genus of flowering plants of the grass family, Poaceae. They are known commonly as rosette grasses and panicgrasses.Deschampsia ''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.

nubigena''. Dwarf

varieties Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

of ōhia lehua (''

'' vars. ''incana'' and ''glabriofolia'') are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs. The

s wāwaeiole (''

Lycopodiella cernua ''Lycopodiella'' is a genus in the clubmoss Family (biology), family Lycopodiaceae. The genus members are commonly called bog clubmosses, describing their wetland habitat (ecology), habitat. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with centers ...

''), amau (''

Sadleria ''Sadleria'' is a genus of six species of ferns in the family Blechnaceae, all endemic to Hawaii.Fern pages''Sadleria''/ref> Taxonomy Georg Friedrich Kaulfuss distinguished the genus in 1824 based on samples of ''S. cyatheoides'' acquired by A ...

'' spp.), and uluhe (''

Dicranopteris linearis ''Dicranopteris linearis'' is a common species of fern known by many common names, including Old World forked fern, ''uluhe'' ( Hawaiian), and ''dilim'' ( Filipino). It is one of the most widely distributed ferns of the wet Old World tropics and ...

'') grow in bogs. Rare plants include liliwai (''

Acaena exigua ''Acaena exigua'' is an extinct species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name liliwai. It was endemic to Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Oce ...

''), naenae (''

Dubautia ''Dubautia'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. The genus was named after Joseph Eugène DuBaut (1796-1832), an officer in the French Navy who participated in Freycinet's expedition. The entire genus is endemic to Hawaii. I ...

'' spp.), and ''

Argyroxiphium ''Argyroxiphium'' is a small genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. Its members are known by the common names silversword or greensword due to their long, narrow leaves and the silvery hairs on some species. The silverswords belong to a larger ...

'' spp.

References

{{reflist

External links