Каноалоа кахулавенсис: Гавайи құрамындағы сирек бұршақ гүлі

Species of legume

Kanaloa kahoolawensis, the Ka palupalu o Kanaloa or kohe malama malama o kanaloa, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae and is endemic to Hawaii. Kanaloa is a monotypic genus with the single species Kanaloa kahoolawensis.

Kanaloa was discovered in 1992 by the botanists Ken Wood and Steve Perlman of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kahoolawe, a small island that was formerly used as a bombing range. Kahoolawe was a penal colony for the Hawaiian monarchy from 1826 to 1853, after which it was leased for ranching. Dry weather and ranching have devastated the island's vegetation. Only two wild plants of Kanaloa kahoolawensis have been observed growing on the island. The genus name honors the Hawaiian deity Kanaloa, who according to legend used the island to rest and regain his energies. which translates as the place or womb for the resuscitation of Kanaloa. Maui, and Kauai's Makauwahi Cave. Whether the pollen grains in the samples belong to K. kahoolawensis cannot be determined. As Kahoolawe was united with Maui and other islands prehistorically (see also Maui Nui), it is entirely possible that the pollen belongs to K. kahoolawensis. On the other hand, it may also be that the Oahu population remains represent another, extinct, species possibly an ancestor of K. kahoolawensis , judging from the biogeography of Hawaiian land plants.

Other than preserving the wild plants, efforts have been put into establishing ex situ stocks (in a nursery or arboretum), and increasing plant populations with a minimum of 25 individuals. Fences have been built to protect the single wild plant from grazing and trampling by introduced mammals. The plants are inspected regularly for insect damage and disease. Another plant that was grown from seed is currently kept in the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s McBryde Garden on Kauai, Hawaii.