Ochrosia haleakalae
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrosia_haleakalae
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ochrosia haleakalae faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation in its restricted montane forest habitat. Feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, cause significant damage through trampling and browsing, while also facilitating the spread of invasive plants. The species' extremely limited range on Maui makes it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and climate change impacts on its specialized high-elevation ecosystem.
Habitat
Ochrosia haleakalae is endemic to the montane dry and mesic forests of Haleakalā on the Hawaiian island of Maui, typically occurring at elevations between 1,200 and 2,100 meters. The species inhabits native-dominated forest communities characterized by koa and ʻōhiʻa trees, where it grows in the understory and forest edges of these increasingly fragmented ecosystems.
