Lysimachia filifolia
Lysimachia filifolia is a rare species of flowering plant in the Primulaceae known by the common name Wailua River yellow loosestrife.[1] It is endemic to Hawaii, where there are two populations on Oahu and one on Kauai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Lysimachia filifolia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Primulaceae |
Genus: | Lysimachia |
Species: | L. filifolia |
Binomial name | |
Lysimachia filifolia | |
This is a small shrub growing up to about half a meter in maximum height. The leaves are very narrow to threadlike and the flowers are reddish purple.[2] The plant grows on the faces of waterfalls in wet forest habitat.[2][3]
There are about 130 individuals remaining on the island of Oahu, growing at waterfalls in the Koolau Range.[3] There is a single population on Kauai, just discovered in 2008.[3] Another population of plants on Kauai proved to be members of a different species, Lysimachia pendens.[3]
This plant is threatened by the degradation of its habitat by feral pigs and non-native plant species such as mistflower (Ageratina riparia), ti (Cordyline fruticosa), and umbrella tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum).[3]
References
- USDA Plants Profile
- L. filifolia. The Nature Conservancy.
- USFWS. L. filifolia Five-year Review. July 2009.