Hibiscadelphus
Hibiscadelphus (Hawaiian: hau kuahiwi = highland hibiscus) is an endemic plant species in Hawaii in the subfamily Malvoideae within the family (Malvaceae ).
Description
There are deciduous deciduous trees that reach heights of growth 5-7 meters; they have a rounded crown. The egg-shaped leaves are depending on the type either lobed or unlobed.
The flowers hang individually to the delicate branches. The petals are purple or pink. In the subfamily Malvoideae the many stamens are fused into a tube surrounding the stamp, the so-called Columna. The long, candle-shaped, dark red Columna is adapted in its curved form perfectly to the beak shape of the Hawaiian honeyeater ( Drepanidinae ).
The main reason for the extinction of the species Hibiscadelphus was probably the strong interdependence between plants and acting as pollinators birds ( Ornithophilie ). The fact that the birds were the main pollinators dresses, extinction of birds also sealed the demise of these trees. Another reason for the rarity of this genus is the competition with neophytes as well as habitat destruction by introduced goats and pigs.
System
Was described for the first time the genus Hibiscadelphus in 1911 by the Austrian-American botanist Joseph Francis skirt based on the type Hibiscadelphus giffardianus. It was given its botanical name because of their resemblance to the hibiscus plants, especially the Lindenblättrigen Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus ); hence the nickname " brother of Hibiscus".
Today, the genus includes seven species of trees, four of which are already extinct and another three are extinct or very rare in the wild.
Here is a list of extant species:
- Hibiscadelphus distans Bishop LE & DR Herbst - Less than 200 copies exist above the Koaie River in Waimea Canyon on Kauai.
- Hibiscadelphus hualalaiensis Rock - The type was previously located on the slopes of Hualālai in Kailua, but exists today only in cultivation after the last wild tree in 1992 was received.
- Hibiscadelphus giffardianus Rock - This species is known only by a single wild tree from Mauna Loa, Hawaii, was discovered in 1910. 1930 died this tree. But before he could be cultivated by some cuttings and exists today in botanical gardens.
The following species of the genus are considered to be extinct:
- Hibiscadelphus bombycinus C.N. Forbes † - probably extinct before 1868. Occurrence: Kawaihae, Hawai'i
- Hibiscadelphus crucibracteatus R. W. Hobdy † - 1981 was discovered on the slopes of Puhielelu Ridge on Lanai at an altitude of 750 m above sea level, a single tree that went down in 1985. Efforts to save this tree by seedlings failed.
- Hibiscadelphus wilderianus rock † - probably extinct around 1912. Known from a single tree, which was discovered in 1910 at Auwahi on Maui, Hawaii.
- Lorence & WL Wagner Hibiscadelphus woodii † - This species was first discovered in 1991 and first described in 1995. Four copies exist on Kauai, the last of which came in 2011.
In addition, there was the hybrids H. × puakuahiwi K.Baker & S.Allen, a cross between Hibiscadelphus hualalaiensis and Hibiscadelphus giffardianus that one has discovered in 1973, but which is now destroyed again.