Kauai hau kuahiwi
Hibiscadelphus distans L.E.Bishop & D.R.Herbst
Hibiscadelphus distans is a flowering plant in the Malvaceae family, endemic to Kauaʻi in Hawaii. Known as Kauai hau kuahiwi, it is a shrub or small tree with heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. It grows in native dry forests at elevations between 1,000 and 1,800 feet. It is the only surviving species in the genus Hibiscadelphus, with the other five species recently extinct in the wild.
Description
Hibiscadelphus distans is a rare flowering plant in the Malvaceae family. It is native to the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaii and is known locally as hau kuahiwi. The species is a shrub or small tree characterized by heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. It is found in the remnants of native dry forests at elevations between 1,000 and 1,800 feet. The genus Hibiscadelphus is endemic to Hawaii, and H. distans is the only surviving species, with the other five species in the genus having become extinct in the wild.
Other common names
Kauai hau kuahiwi
Distribution
Global · Hawaii
