''Schiedea apokremnos'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family
Caryophyllaceae known by the common names Kauai schiedea, Na Pali Coast schiedea, and ''ma`oli`oli''. It is
endemic to
Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of
Kauai
Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...
. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat. It is a federally listed
endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
of the United States.
This plant is a
shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall. The oppositely arranged leaves have fleshy, hairless blades 3 to 5 centimeters long and up to 1.2 centimeters wide. The flowers are borne in clusters. Each has green or purplish
bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...
s and
sepals and no petals. The
fruit is a
capsule.
[USFWS]
Determination of Endangered Status for Two Na Pali Coast Plants: Hedyotis st.-johnii (Na Pali Beach Hedyotis) and Schiedea apokremnos (Ma'oli'oli).
''Federal Register'' September 30, 1991.
By 2003 there were five populations totalling about 201 individuals; only two of the populations contained more than five plants. Since 2003 some more small, scattered populations have been located but others are believed to have been
extirpated. It grows in dry coastal habitat among other shrubs, often on
basalt cliffs.
[USFWS]
Ma`oli`oli Five-year Review.
August 2010.
One major threat to the species is the
feral goat population. The goats eat the plants and foster the
invasion of
non-native plants by degrading the terrain.
[ It is also threatened by fire.][''Schiedea apokremnos''.]
The Nature Conservancy.
References
External links
USDA Plants Profile
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7431251
apokremnos
Endemic flora of Hawaii
Plants described in 1970