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Conserving and restoring
America's native plants |
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CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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Abutilon eremitopetalum
| Family: |
Malvaceae (Mallow Family) |
| Taxon Synonym: |
Abutilon cryptopetalum |
| Author: |
Caum |
| Growth
Habit: |
Shrub |
| CPC
Number: |
255 |
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| Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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| David Orr contributed to this Plant Profile. |
Abutilon eremitopetalum
|
Abutilon eremitopetalum is endemic to the dry forest habitats of Lana`i. Since its discovery in the 1930's, it has always been very rare and has been known only in small, widely scattered colonies. By the early 1980s, the taxon was generally considered extinct. In 1987, 60-70 plants were discovered on a slope in Kahea Gulch. Today, this population still exists with approximately 100 individuals.
Abutilon eremitopetalum is in the mallow family (Malvaceae). It is a shrub with grayish-green, densely hairy, heart-shaped leaves that are 7-12 cm long. The flowers of this plant are cup-shaped and borne one or two on stems arising from the leaf axil. This unusual flower has petals that are bright green on the upper surface and reddish on the on the lower surface that are hidden within the calyx.
| Distribution
& Occurrence |
|
State Range
Habitat
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Dry forest, 240 to 320 meters elevation (USFWS 1995). |
Distribution
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Found only on the island of Lana`i in Kahea Gulch (USFWS 1995). |
Number Left
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Lana`i, 1 population, approximately 100 individuals (USFWS 2001).
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State/Area
Protection
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State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
|
| |
Hawaii |
S1 |
LE |
4/11/2002 |
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| Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
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Ecological
Relationships
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Reproductive cycles, longevity, specific environmental requirements, and limiting factors are unknown (USFWS 1995). |
Threats
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Alien plant competition.
Browsing and trampling by axis deer.
Fire.
Stochastic extinction caused by low numbers.
Drought.
Possibly mismanagement.
Loss of pollinators.
(USFWS 1995) |
Current Research Summary
| |
Seed storage.
Propagation via seed.
(USFWS 1995) |
Current Management Summary
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Ex situ plantings at Waimea Arboretum, National Tropical Botanical Garden and Amy Greenwell Botanical Garden (USFWS 1995).
|
Research Management Needs
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Fencing of remaining population.
Weed control.
Monitoring.
Fire protection.
(USFWS 1995) and (USFWS 2001) |
Ex Situ Needs
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Propagation.
Genetic studies.
Physiological studies.
Seed banking and germplasm preservation.
(USFWS 1995) |
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| Books (Single Authors)
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| Bornhorst, H.L.; Rauch, F.D. 1994. Native Hawaiian Plants for Landscaping, Conservation, and Reforestation. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii--Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. 18p. |
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| Wagner, W.L.; Bruegmann, M.M.; Herbst, D.R; Lau, J.Q.C. 1999. Hawaiian Vascular Plants at Risk: 1999. Honolulu, HI: Bishop Museum Press Honolulu. |
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| Wagner, W.L.; Herbst, D.R.; Sohmer, S.H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i--Revised Edition. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. 1853p. |
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| Books (Sections)
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| Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC. |
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| Electronic Sources
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| (2002). Hawaiian Native Plant Genera. ¬ Gerald D. Carr, University of Hawaii Botany Department. http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/natives.htm. Accessed: 2002. |
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| (2002). Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. [Web-based, searchable database] College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources: University of Hawaii at Manoa. http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/botlist.htm. Accessed: 2002. |
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| Yoshinaga, A. (2002). Seed storage characteristics of Hawaiian species. [Web site] University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848. http://www.hawaii.edu/scb/seed/seedtabl.html. Accessed: 2002. |
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| Journal Articles
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| Ellshoff, Z.E. 1991. The Rarest Hawaiian Members of the Hibiscus Family. National Tropical Botanical Garden: The Bulletin. 21, 3: 7-12. |
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| USFWS. 1976. Proposed Endangered Status for 1700 U.S. Plants. Federal Register. 41: 24523-24572. |
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| USFWS. 1990. 46 Plants and Animals. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 15, 10: 4-10. |
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| USFWS. 1990. Proposed Endangered Status for Six Plants from the Island of Lanai, HI. Federal Register. 55, 180: 38236-38242. |
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| USFWS. 1991. Determination of endangered status for six plants from the island of Lanai, Hawaii. Federal Register. 56, 183: 47686 - 47694. |
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| USFWS. 2002. Revised Determinations of Prudency and Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Lanai, HI. Federal Register. 67, 42: 9806-9871. |
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| Reports
|
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| USFWS. 1995. Lana`i Plant Cluster Recovery Plan. Portland, Oregon: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.138. |
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| USFWS. 2001. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species List. March 30, 2000. Honolulu: Unpublished. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.19. |
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