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Conserving and restoring
America's native plants |
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CPC National Collection Plant Profile
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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 |
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| Primary
custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered
Plants is: |
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Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus
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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 |
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State Range
Habitat
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H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus is found in mesic to wet forests at about 300 to 800 meters elevation (Wagner et al. 1999). |
Distribution
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H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus is restricted to the island of Moloka’i (Wailau, Waihanau, and Papalaua valleys) (USFWS 1996). |
Number Left
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Number of Populations: 4 (USFWS 2001)
Number of Plants: <100 (USFWS 2001)
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State/Area
Protection
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State/Area |
Rank |
Status |
Date |
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Hawaii |
S1 |
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4/11/2002 |
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| Conservation,
Ecology & Research |
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Ecological
Relationships
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H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus is a hermaphrodite that is insect-pollinated (Sakai et al. 1995). |
Threats
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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
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The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) has propagated H. arnottianus subsp. immaculatus. No other conservation efforts have been undertaken. |
Current Management Summary
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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
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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
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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). |
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| Books (Single Authors)
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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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| 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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| 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. |
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| 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). |
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| USFWS. (2001). Unpublished data. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. Accessed: 2001. |
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| Journal Articles
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| 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. |
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| USFWS. 1991. Proposed Endangered or Threatened Status for 16 Plants from the Island of Molokai, HI. Federal Register. 56, 183 |
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| USFWS. 1992. Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for 16 Plants from the Island of Molokai, HI. Federal Register. 57, 196: 46325-46344. |
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| USFWS. 1992. Final Listing Rules Approved for 21 Species During July/October 1992. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 17, 9-11: 9. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Reports
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| USFWS. 1996. Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster. Portland, OR: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.143. |
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