CR

Myrsine fosbergii

Declining

Overview

Myrsine fosbergii, the Koolau Range colicwood, is a species of plant in the family Primulaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Myrsine fosbergii faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion on its limited Pacific island range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter forest composition. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity affecting the montane forest ecosystems where this species occurs.

Threat summary

Habitat

Myrsine fosbergii inhabits montane wet forests and cloud forests on volcanic slopes, typically occurring in areas with high humidity and consistent moisture. The species is adapted to the specific microclimatic conditions of Pacific island mountain ecosystems with rich, well-drained soils.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

Frequently asked questions

Why is Myrsine fosbergii classified as Critically Endangered?
Myrsine fosbergii is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Myrsine fosbergii faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion on its limited Pacific island range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter forest composition. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity affecting the montane forest ecosystems where this species occurs.
Where does Myrsine fosbergii live?
Myrsine fosbergii occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Myrsine fosbergii?
The main threats to Myrsine fosbergii are 11.1, 12.1, 5.3, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.