Search / Plant Profile / Hesperomannia arbuscula

Plant Profile

Maui Island-aster (Hesperomannia arbuscula)

Closeup of leaves and flower. Note the ascending and clustered habit of the flowers. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Huppman

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Asteraceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 151838
Lifeform: Shrub, Tree
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/05/1993

Description:

Hesperomannia arbuscula is a member of a rare and endemic genus found in the dry forest areas of the south and central Wai`anae Mountains on O`ahu and Iao Valley on Mau`i. On O`ahu, the 3 remaining populations is known to occur within an area of only about 10 square miles. It is a small, shrubby tree which grows to about 6-10 feet in height and bears beautiful clusters of erect thistle-like heads, each made up of many yellow to yellow-brown florets. Its closest relatives are from the New World, probably in South America. The genus Hesperomannia is thought to be one of the early immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands.

Where is Maui Island-aster (Hesperomannia arbuscula) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Typically grows on slopes and ridges in mesic to wet forests at an elevation of 350 to 900 meters. (Wagner et. al 1999) and (USFWS 1998).

Distribution:

Makaha-Wai`anae Kai Ridge, O`ahuKalua`a Gulch, O`ahuKapuna Gulch, O`ahuIao Valley, West Mau`i(USFWS 1998)

States & Provinces:

Maui Island-aster can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Maui Island-aster (Hesperomannia arbuscula)?

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Conservation Actions

09/16/2020

Micropropagation (Harold L. Lyon Arboretum) Propagation (Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, National Tropical Botanical Garden)

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to the Waianae Mountains of Oahu and West Maui. Fewer than 60 plants are known to be extant. All but a couple of these are on Oahu. This species' numbers have been steadily declining over the last few decades. Seed set has been observed to be very poor. It is also threatened by feral pigs and goats, and alien plants.

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Ungulates (pigs) Rats Alien plants Humans (trampling) Overcollection Reduced reproductive vigor due to small population size (USFWS 1998, 2001)

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

2 sites (O`ahu and M`aui) 4 populations 53-55 individuals (USFWS 2001)

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Micropropagation (Harold L. Lyon Arboretum) Propagation (Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, National Tropical Botanical Garden) (USFWS 1998) and (Nellie Sugii Pers. Comm. 2001)

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Alien plant removal has been conducted by the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources-NAR (USFWS 1998) In April, 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that a designation of critical habitat was prudent for this species. (USFWS 2002)

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Enclosures Outplanting Feral and domestic animal control Rat control Monitoring Weed control (USFWS 1998)

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Optimize propagation protocols Germplasm storage Seed banking Genetic study Biology and physiology study (USFWS 1998)