Description (Code)
Global Rank:	Imperiled (G2)
Endangered Species Act Rank:	Endangered (LE)

Species Description
A sprawling perennial vine. Flowers are borne in the leaf axils and are maroon to yellow in color.

Habitat
Dry shrublands and forests on old lava flows.

Global Range
Hawaii island; historical range included Maui & Molokai.

Abundance
Population estimates are difficult to make because of vegetative reproduction.

Global Rank Considerations
Stenogyne angustifolia var. Angustifolia is listed endangered on fed. Reg., 79-10-30.

Global Threats
Anthropogenic fire from artillery training and public hunting may threaten the survival of this species, as may trampling and disruption from feral ungulates, especially pigs. Competition from alien plants, especially fountain grass, may also threaten establishment of stenogyne angustifolia. Despite its apparent health, the population [at pohakuloa training area] remains imperiled due to low numbers and restricted habitat. (aplet and shaw [no date]).

Current Protection Status
The habitat of this species is almost entirely within the kipuka kalawamauna endangered plants habitat, an area designated by the U.S. Army to protect a region within pohakuloa training area that supports an extraordinary high concentration of rare plant species. Within this area, military operations have been reduced to the use of roads and firing points (artillery launch sites). Other maneuvers, including vehicular and infantry training and bivouacking, are prohibited. Public hunting is allowed in this area, however, and fire is always a threat. Other plants occur along new bobcat trail. This area is extremely rocky and unsuitable for most training; no official habitat protection policy is in effect here. (aplet and shaw [no date]). Along

Permanence
Perennial.

Taxonomic Comments
Genus endemic to hawaiian islands, species now restricted to hawaii island; historical occurrences on maui & molokai. Weller (in wagner et al. 1990) is not recognizing any of sherff's varieties, nor is kartesz (1994 checklist and 1999 floristic synthesis). Usfws originally listed s. Angustifolia var. Angustifolia as endangered in 1979; the oct. 31, 1996 list erroneously listed only the full species; this was corrected in the 1998 and 1999 lists; however, the pacific islands office of the u.S. Fws submitted a draft notice of taxonomic change, which has not yet been published, but which will notify the public that fws no longer recognizes the varieties and that all entities identified as s. Angustifolia are protected under the act (christa russell, coordinator for plant conservation, u.S. Fws, pacific islands office, pers. Comm. July 2000).

(Go Back)