Achyranthes atollensis

Achyranthes atollensis (English name: Hawaii Chaff Flower ) is a presumably extinct Hawaiian species of the genus Achyranthes within the family of Amaranthaceae ( Amaranthaceae ).

Description

Achyranthes atollensis was a shrub, reaching stature heights of 1 to 2 meters. The small inverted - ovate to elliptic leaves were 2.0 to 6.2 inches long. They were densely covered with white or yellow trichomes. The leaf surface was dark and usually covered with smooth hair.

The translucent eared inflorescence had contained small flowers.

Occurrence

Achyranthes atollensis occurred on Laysan, Midway Islands, Kure Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The habitat of this species were dry bushland on Kalksandböden.

Taxonomy

Achyranthes atollensis was described in 1979 by Harold St. John the rank of a species. Rafaël Govaerts Anna Herman gave her in 1995 to the rank of Achyranthes splendens var atollensis variety. Achyranthes atollensis is possibly identical with Achyranthes splendens var reflexa, a plant species that was described in the 19th century by William Hillebrand.

Extinction

After collection in 1896 it was 1903-1911, first as extinct. In 1923 during the Tanager Expedition ( named the minesweepers Tanager, which was converted into a research vessel ) discovered a few copies on Laysan.

Through the establishment of military bases on the various atolls of the habitat of this species has been greatly changed. Introduced herbivores ( such as rabbits ) and invasive plants were responsible for the destruction of the native coastal bushland. 1964 Achyranthes was detected atollensis recently at the Kure Atoll. A search of the botanist Derral fall in 1988 was unsuccessful.