Kingdom Plantae Family Campanulaceae Scientific name Delissea kauaiensis | Order Asterales Genus Delissea Rank Species | |
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Similar Cyanea lobata, Clermontia pyrularia, Cyanea platyphylla | ||
Delissea kauaiensis, syn: Delissea rhytidosperma, is known by the common names Kauai delissea, Kauai leechleaf delissea, and Leechleaf delissea. It is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, that is endemic to Hawaii where it is known only from the island of Kauai. It is extinct in the wild.
Plants that formerly belonged to the species D. rhytidosperma are now called Delissea kauaiensis. It is a federally listed endangered species.
Description
Delissea kauaiensis, a Hawaiian lobelioid, is a shrub which grows up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) tall. The leaves have lance-shaped or nearly oval blades up to 19 centimeters long. The tubular flowers have greenish or purplish petals and distinctive hairs next to the anthers.
The plant's natural habitat is rocky cliffsides in moist forests dominated by Acacia koa. This habitat has been destroyed and degraded by the action of feral pigs, goats, and mule deer, and by exotic plant species.Germination and establishment are further limited by non-native rodents, snails, and grasses.