Niu Valley Cyrtandra (Cyrtandra polyantha)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Gesneriaceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 143878
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

This perennial shrub is a member of the African violet family. It produces clusters of white flowers and leathery leaves, which have a hairy underside. White berries form, attracting rats unfortunately.

Where is Niu Valley Cyrtandra (Cyrtandra polyantha) located in the wild?

Habitat:

C. polyantha thrive on the ridges of disturbed mesic valleys in `ohi`a forests at elevations between 331 and 762 meters.

Distribution:

Endemic to the island of O`ahu, this shrub is historically known to grow throughout the Kalihi region and Kulepiamoa Ridge of the Ko`olau Mountains.

States & Provinces:

Niu Valley Cyrtandra can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Niu Valley Cyrtandra (Cyrtandra polyantha)?

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Clarice Mendoza

09/14/2017

Invasive plant species that threaten this shrub include sticky snakeroot, soapbush, Mexican fleabane, and molasses grass.

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Ecological threats include feral pigs, competition from alien plants, suspected predation by rats, stochastic extinction coupled with reduced reproductive vigor due to the small number of remaining individuals.

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Two populations are growing on private and state land. One has not been visited within the past 50 years, so it is unknown of how many individuals remain. The most recently observed population consists of five individuals.