Hibiscadelphus wilderianus

Hibiscadelphus wilderianus, also known as the Maui hau kuahiwi[3] is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae that was endemic to Hawaii.

Hibiscadelphus wilderianus

Extinct (1912)  (IUCN 2.3)[1]

Possibly Extinct  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Hibiscadelphus
Species:
H. wilderianus
Binomial name
Hibiscadelphus wilderianus

Extinction edit

The plant was endemic to ancient lava fields on the southern slopes of Mount Haleakalā, on Maui, Hawaii. Its forest habitat was devastated by cattle ranchers, and the final tree was found dying in 1912.[4] Today it is believed to be extinct.[1]

In 2019 the scent of the flower was recreated using DNA sequenced from a preserved specimen.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Hibiscadelphus wilderianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T30397A9536660. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30397A9536660.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Hibiscadelphus wilderianus. NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Hibiscadelphus wilderianus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Resurrecting the Sublime]". Resurrecting the Sublime]. Ginkgo Bioworks. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. ^ Agapakis, Christina (2019-05-03). "Reviving the Smell of Extinct Plants". Ginkgo Bioworks. Retrieved 2020-03-20.