Charpentiera densiflora

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Charpentiera densiflora

Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Charpentiera
Species:
C. densiflora
Binomial name
Charpentiera densiflora

Charpentiera densiflora is a rare species of

endangered species list of the United States in 2010.[3]

This is a tree growing up to 12 meters tall. It occurs in forests in moist mountain gulches which are dominated by

gynodioecious; most of the plants have bisexual flowers with male and female parts, but some have only female flowers.[4] Some of the female parts in the bisexual flowers are abortive or nonfunctional, indicating that the species is in the middle of an evolution toward a fully dioecious system; eventually some flowers might start developing without the female parts.[4] If the species becomes dioecious, some individuals will produce all male flowers and some will bear all female. This species has smaller seeds than any other of its genus.[4]

The tree is found only on Kauai, and mainly on the Nā Pali Coast.[1] There are seven populations.[3] Many of the remaining individuals are in the forests of Hoolulu Valley at around 800 feet in elevation.[4] The tree sometimes grows alongside Charpentiera elliptica, and the two species sometimes hybridize.[4] However, the rare dense-flowered pāpala does not seem to be succumbing to the problems involved in hybridization, such as genetic pollution, as evidenced by its maintaining its numbers without having its population overcome by hybrids.[4] It is possible that ecological isolation helps protect the tree.[4]

This rare tree is threatened by a number of processes. It was probably much more widespread than it is today.[1] Its habitat has been destroyed and degraded by feral goats and pigs, washed out by floods, and invaded by a number of non-native plant species.[1] It experienced damage during Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which led to erosion.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h The Nature Conservancy
  2. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Charpentiera densiflora". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c USFWS. Determination of endangered status for 48 species on Kauai and designation of critical habitat. Federal Register April 13, 2010. (large file)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Sohmer, S. H. (1973). A preliminary report of the biology of the genus Charpentiera (Amaranthaceae). Pacific Science 27:4 399.

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