Hibiscadelphus giffardianus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscadelphus_giffardianus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Hibiscadelphus giffardianus faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter forest composition in its restricted Hawaiian habitat. Feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, damage the understory through trampling and browsing, while also facilitating the spread of invasive species. The species' extremely limited population size and restricted range make it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Habitat
This endemic Hawaiian tree inhabits dry to mesic forests on volcanic slopes, typically found in mixed native forest communities at elevations between 300-1,200 meters. It grows in well-drained soils on lava substrates, often associated with other native Hawaiian forest species in remnant forest patches.
