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Plant Profile

Oahu Lobelia (Lobelia oahuensis)

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Campanulaceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 153709
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

In bloom, L. oahuensis is a seen as a single, woody stem with brilliant blue flowers crowned with a rosette of leaves. Its capsule fruits hold brown seeds (NatureServe 2016). Unfortunately, the shrub is short-lived, and monocarpic in life cycle, meaning it takes many years to mature and dies after fruiting (Portner 2015).

Where is Oahu Lobelia (Lobelia oahuensis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Typically, this taxon is found on summit cliffs in cloud-swept wet forests or in areas of low shrub cover frequently exposed to heavy wind and rain (Beacham's Guide 2000).

Distribution:

This endemic shrub is found in the Ko`olau and Wai`anae Mountain ranges on away at elevations between 850 to 920 meters (Portner 2015).

States & Provinces:

Oahu Lobelia can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Oahu Lobelia (Lobelia oahuensis)?

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Conservation Actions

Clarice Mendoza

09/21/2017

A lack and decline of native bird and insect pollinators contribute to this plant's struggle to survive (Yuen 2015).

Clarice Mendoza

09/21/2017

Only 48-68 individuals of this taxon remain, found throughout its native range (Yuen 2015).

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Habitat degradation by feral animals and alien vegetation like the noxious alien plant taxon, Koster's curse, are this taxon's primary ecological threats.

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

There are 11 populations totaling to about 110 individuals. They are located on private and State land or on the boundary of private, State, City and County, and Federal lands. Except for two populations that contain between 30-40 individuals, the remaining nine populations all contain fewer than 10 individuals.