Schiedea spergulina
Encyclopedia
Schiedea spergulina is a rare species of flowering plant in the pink family
known by the common name canyon schiedea and spreading schiedea. It is endemic to Hawaii
, where it is known only from the island of Kauai
. It is threatened by the degradation and destruction of its habitat. There are two varieties of this plant, one federally listed as an endangered species
of the United States, and the other listed threatened.
This plant is a subshrub
growing erect to a maximum height around 60 centimeters.
The var. leiopoda is known from a single population containing no more than 325 individuals, including immature plants and seedlings. The var. spergulina exists in six populations with up to 585 individuals.
The two varieties are distinguished mainly by the amount of hairs they have, and by geography. These varieties are sometimes combined so that the plants are considered all one species without subtaxa.
Caryophyllaceae
The Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranthaceae, Cactaceae and Polygonaceae...
known by the common name canyon schiedea and spreading schiedea. It is endemic to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where it is known only from the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. It is threatened by the degradation and destruction of its habitat. There are two varieties of this plant, one federally listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States, and the other listed threatened.
This plant is a subshrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
growing erect to a maximum height around 60 centimeters.
The var. leiopoda is known from a single population containing no more than 325 individuals, including immature plants and seedlings. The var. spergulina exists in six populations with up to 585 individuals.
The two varieties are distinguished mainly by the amount of hairs they have, and by geography. These varieties are sometimes combined so that the plants are considered all one species without subtaxa.