Go to CPC Home Page

Conserving and restoring
America's native plants

CPC National Collection Plant Profile Home
 
 
Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus


Family: 
Malvaceae  (Mallow Family)
Common Names: 
Koki’o ke’oke’o, koki'oke'oke'o, white Molokai hibiscus
Taxon Synonyms: 

Hibiscus arnottianus fa. Parviflorus, Hibiscus immaculatus

Author: 
(M. Roe) D. Bates
Growth Habit: 
Tree
CPC Number: 
9614

 Distribution
 Protection
 Conservation
 References
Profile Links
 ITIS
 Tropicos
 PLANTS
 Fish & Wildlife

Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus enlarge
Photographer: D. Lorence


Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus is Fully Sponsored
Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is: 

 
Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus


There are eleven taxa of Hibiscus endemic to Hawaii, seven taxa are threatened with extinction and one is extinct. Hibiscus arnottianus is known for its beautiful white fragrant flowers. There are three recognized subspecies of H. arnottianus on the islands of Hawai’i, and the subspecies immaculatus, found only in four populations on the island of Moloka’i, is considered to be the rarest of the three.

H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus, a member of the hibiscus family (Malvaceae) is a tree up to three meters tall with alternate, oval, toothed leaves (5 to 7 cm long, 4 to 6.5 cm wide). The faintly fragrant flowers have white petals (8 to 11 cm long, 2.5 to 3.5 cm wide) with the calyx being 2.5 to 3 centimeters long. Anthers are arranged along the upper third of the white staminal column (10 to 14 cm long). This subspecies is distinguished from the other native Hawaiian members of its genus by its white petals and white staminal column (USFWS 1996).


 
Distribution & Occurrence

State Range
  Hawaii
State Range of  Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus

Habitat
  H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus is found in mesic to wet forests at about 300 to 800 meters elevation (Wagner et al. 1999).

Distribution
  H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus is restricted to the island of Moloka’i (Wailau, Waihanau, and Papalaua valleys) (USFWS 1996).

Number Left
  Number of Populations: 4 (USFWS 2001)
Number of Plants: <100 (USFWS 2001)

Protection

Global Rank:  
G3T1
 
8/7/1990
Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:  
LE
 
10/8/1992
Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:  
Yes
 
9/26/1996
 

State/Area Protection
  State/Area Rank Status Date  
  Hawaii S1 4/11/2002  

Conservation, Ecology & Research

Ecological Relationships
  H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus is a hermaphrodite that is insect-pollinated (Sakai et al. 1995).

Threats
  Threats to H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus include the destruction of habitat by feral goats and potentially inbreeding resulting from a restricted genetic pool.

Current Research Summary
  The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) has propagated H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus. No other conservation efforts have been undertaken.

Current Management Summary
  The Nature Conservancy of Hawai’i (TNCH) is working with State and local hunters in remote sections of Kamakou and Pelekunu to try to reduce the population of feral goats.

NTBG propagated H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus and plans to research propagation methods and feasibility of long-term seed storage (USFWS 1996)

NTBG currently has ex situ holdings of 190 seeds in its seed bank and three plants in the nursery of the botanical garden which represents one out of the four populations.

Research Management Needs
  1. Propagation and maintenance of ex situ genetic stock should be continued for H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus.
2. Exclosures should be built for protection against feral goats.
3. Determine the best methods for ex situ propagation and transplanting also, a research program is recommended to study the growth and viability of H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus.
4. Conduct pollination biology and reproductive studies.
5. Map genetic diversity in the surviving populations of H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus.
Recommendations derived from M.H. Chapin, M. Maunder, and USFWS (1996).

Ex Situ Needs
  1. Survey ex situ holdings and conduct molecular fingerprinting.
2. Establish secure ex situ stocks with full founder representation.
3. Develop proper horticultural protocols and pest management for H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus.
4. Propagation and maintenance of ex situ genetic stock should be continued for H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus.
Recommendations derived from M.H. Chapin, M. Maunder, and USFWS (1996).

References
 
Books (Single Authors)
 
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.
 
Books (Sections)
 
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.
 
Electronic Sources
 
Gustafson, R.J. Hawaii's Unique and Vanishing Flora: A Photographic Exhibition. [Web site] ¬ The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation. http://www.nhm.org/research/botany/Hawaii_Vanishing_Flora/home.html. Accessed: 2002.
 
NatureServe. (2008). NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. [Internet].Version 7.0. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. Accessed: (June 17, 2008).
 
USFWS. (2001). Unpublished data. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. Accessed: 2001.
 
Journal Articles
 
Sakai, A.K.; Wagner, W.L.; Ferguson, D.M.; Herbst, D.R. 1995. Origins of Dioecy in the Hawaiian Flora. Ecology. 76, 8: 2517-2529.
 
USFWS. 1991. Proposed Endangered or Threatened Status for 16 Plants from the Island of Molokai, HI. Federal Register. 56, 183
 
USFWS. 1992. Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for 16 Plants from the Island of Molokai, HI. Federal Register. 57, 196: 46325-46344.
 
USFWS. 1992. Final Listing Rules Approved for 21 Species During July/October 1992. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 17, 9-11: 9.
 
USFWS. 2000. Determinations of Whether Designation of Critical Habitat Is Prudent for 20 Plant Species and the Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for 32 Plant Species From the Island of Molokai, HI. Federal Register. 65, 251: 83158-83216.
 
USFWS. 2002. Revised Determinations of Prudency and Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Molokai, Hawaii. Federal Register. 67, 66: 16492-16579.
 
USFWS. 2002. Revised Determinations of Prudency and Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Islands of Maui and Kahoolawe. Federal Register. 67, 64: 15856-15987.
 
Reports
 
USFWS. 1996. Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster. Portland, OR: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.143.
 

This profile was updated on 1/19/2010
Search for other Plant Profiles

 

California Oregon Washington Idaho Nevada Arizona utah Montana Wyoming Colorado New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Wisconsin Illinois Michigan Michigan Indiana Ohio Kentucky Tennessee Mississippi Alabama Florida Georgia South Carolina North Carolina Virginia West Virginia Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland New Jersey Connecticut Rhode Island Masachusetts Vermont New Hampshire Maine New York New York Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii Profile Image