Meyen's Gouania / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Meyen's Gouania (Gouania meyenii)

Gouania meyenii, Waianae kai, O'ahu, endemic. Photo Credit: Gerald D. Carr © 1975-2005
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Rhamnaceae
  • State: HI
  • Nature Serve ID: 128581
  • Lifeform: Shrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection:
Description:

Endemic to Hawai`i, this rare Gouania species is of the shrub habit and features oval leaves and white flowers organized in a cyme inflorescence. 

Where is Meyen's Gouania (Gouania meyenii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This shrubs tends to grow on rocky ledges, cliff faces, and ridge tops in dry shrubland.

Distribution:

Remaining wild individuals of these species can be found in two adjacent vallet sof the northern Waianae Mountains on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. In the past, several plants were found on Kauai in the 1900s, particularly in the Kalalau Valley, but there have not been any recent sightings since.

States & Provinces:

Meyen's Gouania can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Meyen's Gouania (Gouania meyenii)?

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
  • 09/07/2017

There are only two subpopulations of this species remaining in its native range, consisting of 32 individuals.

Clarice Mendoza
  • 09/07/2017

This species' population is susceptible to habitat degradation from feral ungulates as well as stochastic weather events like landslides, fire, and drought, which are results of climate change. Invasive species of various plants pose as competition for limited resources. Introduced animal species, specifically rats, slugs, and snails predate on plant parts that are necessary for reproduction and progressive growth.

Nellie Sugii
  • 01/01/2010

Ecological threats include fire, habitat degradation by feral pigs and goats, and the small number of extant populations.

Nellie Sugii
  • 01/01/2010

Four known populations are on Oahu withestimated 83 individuals. Three populations Kauai contain an estimated 36 individuals.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Gouania meyenii
Authority Steud.
Family Rhamnaceae
CPC Number 2053
ITIS 28546
USDA GOME
Duration Perennial
Common Names Smoothfruit Chewstick
Associated Scientific Names Gouania gagnei | Gouania oliveri | Gouania meyenii | Gouania integrifolia | Gouania orbicularis | Lupulus orbicularis
Distribution Remaining wild individuals of these species can be found in two adjacent vallet sof the northern Waianae Mountains on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. In the past, several plants were found on Kauai in the 1900s, particularly in the Kalalau Valley, but there have not been any recent sightings since.
State Rank
State State Rank
Hawaii S1
Ecological Relationships

Photos

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