Achyranthes mutica

Achyranthes mutica

Achyranthes mutica is a rare flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae ( Amaranthaceae ). This shrub is endemic to Hawaii.

Features

Achyranthes mutica is a multi- branched shrub that reaches a height from 30.5 to 60.9 centimeters. The opposite leaves are constant from 3.3 to 4.1 inches long and 1.5 to 2.0 inches wide. The petioles are 0.3 to 1.5 inches long. The surface of the young leaves is covered with fine hair, but with increasing age of the leaves it is smooth. The leaf blade is obovate to elliptic or oblanceolate.

The sessile flowers are arranged in 0.4 to 1.5 inches long, aged men inflorescences that hang directly in the covered with dense, fluffy, hair standing on inflorescence axis. Opposite the sepals is a 1 to 1.3 mm long, broadly ovate bract, which is covered at the top with fine spines. The broadly ovate bracts are 1.8 to 2.3 millimeters long. The kronblattlosen flowers are hermaphroditic. The 0.25 to 0.51 inches long sepals are unbalanced and sharply pointed at the apex. About the fruit is not known.

From other species of the genus differs Achyranthes mutica by the size of the sepals and by the short and compressed ear.

Habitat

Achyranthes mutica occurs at altitudes up to 925 meters in dry lowland forests in association with Acacia koaia, Dodonaea viscosa, Myoporum sandwicense, Nestegis sandwicensis, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia and Sophora chrysophylla ago.

Inventory and risk

Prior to the rediscovery in 1992 Achyranthes mutica was known only from two specimens. The first was in 1779 by David Nelson, a plant collector who worked for Joseph Banks, discovered on the Big Island of Hawaii. The second copy, on the basis of Asa Gray in 1867 the first scientific description written, collected the French naturalist Jules Remy Ezekiel in the period 1851-1855 on Kauai. Today, the type exists only at three localities in Hawaii in the region of Keawewai River at the southern slope of Puu Loa in the Kohala Mountains and in the Lanikepu Gorge. 1997 the population consisted of 30 to 50 individuals. In the same year a seed bank with 500 seeds was begun at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kalaheo for Achyranthes mutica set. 20 plants have been successfully used in cultivation. In 2003, the stock had increased to 120 to 150 copies.

The main causes of threat degradation and destruction of habitat by deer, cattle and feral goats are. Also, landslides and hurricanes as well as competition with invasive plant species such as Psidium guajava, Ageratina riparia, Hylocereus undatus, Conyza bonariensis and Pennisetum clandestinum endanger the existence of the Art