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Plant Profile

Hawai`i Lady's-nightcap (Bonamia menziesii)

A closeup shows the flower of this rare bindweed. Photo Credit: Waimea

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Convolvulaceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 145685
Lifeform: Vine
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987

Description:

Bonamia menziesii is a member of the morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae). It is a vine or twining liana with branches that can measure up to 10 meters long. The leaves are usually leathery and oval shaped. Its flowers are white to greenish colored, funnel shaped and produced singly or in clusters of three on stalks. Bonamia menziesii was historically known from scattered locations on Kaua`i, the Waianae Mountains of O`ahu, on Moloka`i, one location on Maui and on the eastern end on the island of Hawai`i. Today, it is known from a total of 28 populations consisting of a few thousand individuals.

Where is Hawai`i Lady's-nightcap (Bonamia menziesii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Bonamia menziesii is found on steep slopes as well as on level ground in dry to mesic forest and sometimes in wet forest at elevations between 150-625 meters (USFWS 1999).

Distribution:

Found on the islands of Kaua`i, O`ahu, Lana`i, Mau`i, and Hawai`i in scattered populations (USFWS 1999).

States & Provinces:

Hawai`i Lady's-nightcap can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Hawai`i Lady's-nightcap (Bonamia menziesii)?

Waimea Arboretum Foundation

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Assigned 07/20/23

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

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. Although still occurring on most of the larger islands in Hawaii, the total number of plants probably does not exceed several hundred individuals. The dry habitats where this species occurs have been destroyed or altered by agriculture, development, alien plants and animals, and fire.

David Orr

01/01/2010

Habitat degradation and possible predation by wild and feral ungulates (pigs, goats, axis deer, black-tailed deer, and cattle). Competition with alien plant species. Fire. (USFWS 1999, 2001)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Kaua`i- Kalalau, Upper Waioli Valley, Limahuli, Hanakapiai to Milolii, Kawaiula Valley, Hipalau Valley, Paaiki Valley, Mount Kahili and Hono O Na Pali, approximately 12 populations, several thousand. O`ahu-Waianae Mountains, 7 to 8 populations, 25-50 individuals and Ko`olau Mountains, 4 populations, 75-100 individuals. Lana`i-Kaa and Paomai, 3 locations, 7 individuals. Hawai`i-Kaupulehu, 1 population, 1 individual. Maui-West Maui, 1 population, 1 individual. (USFWS 1999, 2001)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Propagation-seed, tissue culture. (USFWS 1999)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Waianae Mountains-weed control and monitoring at Army's Makua site. Fenced exclosure at the Navy's Lualualei site. Lana`i-fuel reduction and fire protection plan for the Kanepuu Preserve site. (USFWS 1999) In 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that a designation of critical habitat was prudent for this species. (USFWS 2002)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Construct exclosures to protect against wild and feral ungulates. Control competing alien plant species. Enhance wild populations. Protect against fire. (USFWS 1999)

David Orr

01/01/2010

Genetic studies. Physiological studies. Seed banking and germplasm preservation. Propagation. Ex situ site establishment. (USFWS 1999)