What is the status in Hawai‘i of these species?

The column on the far right in the Plant Listing table provides information on the status of each of the species listed using the following abbreviations:

end - endemic; native to the Hawaiian Islands and found in nature nowhere else.


E - Endangered: in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of the plant's range.
V - Vulnerable: likely to become endangered in the near future; threatened by extensive natural habitat destruction.
R - Rare: plant with a small distributional range.

ind - indigenous; native to the Hawaiian Islands and found elsewhere (usually widespread in the Pacific Islands).
pol - Polynesian; brought to the Hawaiian Islands by the ancient peoples before 1778.
ind? - possibly indigenous; although, may be an early Polynesian introduction (pol).

How many species are growing at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine?

The Plant List Page comprises 115 species and varieties of plants (endemic, indigenous, and Polynesian introductions) that have been planted at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine over a decade of effort. Not all of these plants have survived; species preceded by a † symbol are no longer present on the site and some may have only ever been represented by a single attempted planting. Of the listed species, 84 are growing there at the present time; some in abundance, others represented by one or two individuals. The most successful "introductions" are preceded by an asterisk (*) in the listing above; these are the plants "filling in" the areas dominated by natives.

How well are the native plants doing?

* - numerous; species spreading on its own (wet season 2017-18).
† - planting attempted, but individuals have since disappeared (wet season 2017-18).

In time, we hope to create a lowland forest with open areas of scrub and grassland consisting entirely of native plant species (and Polynesian introductions); a vegetation of self perpetuating native plants. Whether or not that dream is even achievable, present efforts are on trying many different native plants and varieties to discover which ones do well at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine. To better quantify and convey our experiences, we have developed a scale of growth and survival of each species. The six-level scale is defined below. Somewhat finer gradations are indicated by half steps which can be revealed by placing a pointer on the scale value opposite each plant picture. These half steps can suggest how strong or weak we consider the present rating. For examples: a "scale = 4/5" for a Level 4 species indicates a species for which we are seeing a few seedlings possibly develop on their own; a "scale = 4/5" for a Level 5 species indicates a plant producing seedlings, but the survivability of those seedlings without tending is still questionable.

Remember, the rating scale and our observational notes are really only valid for the plantings at Nā Pōhaku. This is a windward, low elevation site and adjacent wetland (the latter with some unique characteristics). Rainfall is on the order of 40 inches (1000 mm) per year, with wet and dry seasons usually strongly expressed. Lateritic soils prevail, except in the marsh where acidic peat soils dominate. No calcareous or salty coastal soils are present, as might be the case closer to the ocean. And of course, many of the plants that do poorly here might do well in other locations.

Plant does not grow at this site, even though regularly attended to (essentially we have not succeeded in growing this species for any length of time).

Plant appears not to do very well at this location unless constantly tended (e.g., watering during dry periods, removal of pests, removal of competing herbaceous species).

Plant grows marginally well at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine, but requires watering in dry months and probably would not persist without tending.

Plant grows well without supplemental watering once established, but may not naturally propagate at this location.

Plant produces seeds (should propagate itself naturally after the initial introduction), but seedlings may require supplemental watering or other care.

Plant establishes naturally on the site (propagates naturally) and does not require supplemental watering nor need seedlings be tended. Self-sustaining population.

Scale values assigned to each species planted at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine are displayed on the photograph pages. As time goes by, the values assigned to a species or variety may change, reflecting our increasing experience with each particular plant. Adjustments may be especially true for tree species which can take many years to mature.

This symbol beside a plant picture indicates a species growing in the wetland or the wetland margin and the rating applies to plantings (or volunteering) in or near the wetland (Kawai Nui Marsh) only.

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[Plant Listing Page] [Hawaiian Names Listing]