‘Extinct’ lobelia flower rediscovered in Hawaii

‘Extinct’ lobelia flower rediscovered in Hawaii

Jonathan Harwood
SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

A flower thought to be extinct for almost 100 years has been rediscovered in Hawaii. The species of lobelia was found growing on native trees and ferns in rainforests covering the slopes of the Kohala volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The flower, known as 'oha wai' in Hawaiian, was last seen on the island in 1909 and last collected on the nearby island of East Maui in 1920. It had never been recorded on the slopes of Kohala before.

Conservation worker Jon Griffin explained how researchers made the unexpected discovery. "We were surveying a rare tree snail population when we came across a native lobelia plant that we were unable to identify," he revealed.

He said they sent photographs of the flower to Dr Thomas Lammers, a botanist at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, who identified it as Clermontia peleana singuliflora, which had not been seen for 90 years and was believed to have died out.

Around 30 specimens of the plant were found by the researchers, who said many were in bloom or fruiting. The oha wai has greenish white flowers and leaves that are dark green on the upper surface with a reddish midrib. The Latin name peleana is in honour of Pele, the volcano goddess of Hawaiian mythology.

Conservation teams in Hawaii are now hoping to propagate the plant to ensure its survival. The area where it was found is home to many other rare species, including the world's only remaining colony of pupu kani oe tree snails.

Dr Sam Gon, senior scientist and cultural advisor for The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, said news of the find was heartening. He added: "In a place like Hawaii, with its rich native diversity, rugged terrain and remote places, there is always the potential for new and exciting discoveries."

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