Kiponapona

Phyllostegia racemosa

Description

Phyllostegia racemosa, or kiponapona, a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), is a climbing vine with many-branched, square stems and spicy-smelling leaves. Leaves are opposite, moderately covered with short, soft hairs, dotted with small glands, 1.3-2.4 in (3.3-6.1 cm) long, and 0.6-1.7 in (1.5-4.3 cm) wide, with shallow, rounded teeth. The leaf stalks are densely covered with short hairs. Flower clusters, densely covered with short soft hairs, are comprised of six to 12 flowers with individual flower stalks 0.04-0.12 in (0.1-0.3 cm) long and leaflike bracts. The green bell-shaped calyx is about 0.1-0.2 in (0.25-0.5 cm) long, covered with glands, and has triangular lobes. The white corolla is two-lipped, with a tube about 0.3-0.4 in (0.75-1 cm) long, an upper lip 0.08-0.1 in (0.2-0.25 cm) long, and a lower lip 0.16-0.2 in (0.4-0.5 cm) long. Fruits are divided into four nutlets about 0.06-0.08 in (0.15-0.2 cm) long. This species is distinguished from others in this genus by its leaf shape, lack of a main stalk to the flower clusters, and calyx teeth that are rounded and shallow.

Habitat

P. racemosa is typically found epiphytically in disturbed koa-, 'ohi'a-, and hapu'u-dominated montane mesic or wet forests at elevations between 4,650 and 6,070 ft (1,417.3 and 1,850.1 m). Associated taxa include Vaccinium calycinum (ohelo), Rubus hawaiiensis (akala), and Dryopteris wallichiana.

Distribution

Historically, P. racemosa was found only on the island of Hawaii in the Hakalau and Saddle Road areas of Mauna Kea and the Kulani/Keauhou and Kipuka Ahiu areas of Mauna Loa. Today, four populations of the species are known to occur on private and state lands in the Kulani/Keauhou area, on federal land managed as the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, and in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Together, these four populations comprise 25-45 individuals.

Threats

The major threats to P. racemosa are habitat disturbance by feral pigs and cattle; logging; competition from alien plant taxa, such as banana poka, kikuyu grass, sweet vernalgrass, and Vasey grass; habitat change due to volcanic activity; and a risk of extinction from naturally occurring events and/or reduced reproductive vigor due to the small number of existing populations and individuals.

Conservation and Recovery

As of May 1998, the Volcano Rare Plant Facility had 16 plants; the National Tropical Botanical Garden had two plants and 300 seeds. Lyon Arboretum is propagating plants from tissue culture, and efforts are being made to fence the populations within the Kulani/Keauhou area. A biocontrol program is being developed for banana poka.

Contact

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office, Division of Endangered Species
Eastside Federal Complex
911 N.E. 11th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
(503) 231-6121
http://pacific.fws.gov/

Reference

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. "Big Island II: Addendum to the Recovery Plan for the Big Island Plant Cluster." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. 80 pp., plus appendices.