''Wilkesia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
an plants in the tribe
Madieae
Madieae is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is sometimes considered a subtribe of Heliantheae. Notable species include the tarweeds of the Western United States as well as the silverswords of Hawaii.
Subtribes and gener ...
within the family
Asteraceae
The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
. It contains two
perennials
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...
, both of which are
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to 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 ...
in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
. ''Wilkesia'' is a component of the
silversword alliance
The silversword alliance, also known as the tarweeds, refers to an adaptive radiation of around 30 species in the composite or sunflower family, Asteraceae. The group is endemic to Hawaii, and is derived from a single immigrant to the islands. Fo ...
and is named after Captain
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842).
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he commanded ' during the ...
.
;Species
* ''Wilkesia gymnoxiphium
''Wilkesia gymnoxiphium'' ( Hawaiian iliau), is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. ''Wilkesia'' is one of three genera, wit ...
'' A.Gray
Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His '' Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually exc ...
, 1852
* ''Wilkesia hobdyi
''Wilkesia hobdyi'', the dwarf iliau, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It was first collected in 1968, and was not formally described until 1971. The number of living pla ...
'' H.St.John, 1971
;formerly included[Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist ]
/ref>
''Wilkesia grayana - Argyroxiphium grayanum
''Argyroxiphium grayanum'', commonly known as the greensword, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, and a member of the silversword alliance, a group of over 50 species which are diverse in morphology and habitat but are gene ...
''
References
External links
*
Madieae
Endemic flora of Hawaii
Biota of Kauai
Asteraceae genera
Taxa named by Asa Gray
{{Madieae-stub