Hawaii tropical moist forests
Encyclopedia
The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest
ecoregion
in the Hawaiian Islands
. They cover an area of 6700 km² (2,586.9 sq mi) in the windward
lowlands and montane
regions of the islands. Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m (984.3 ft). Mixed mesic
forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1250 m (2,460.6 to 4,101 ft), while wet forests are found from 1250 to 1700 m (4,101 to 5,577.4 ft). Moist bog
s and shrubland
s exist on montane plateau
s and depressions
. For 70 million years, the Hawaiian Islands have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean
, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including fungi, moss
es, snail
s, bird
s, and other wildlife
. In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, trees are draped with vine
s, orchids, fern
s, and mosses. This ecoregion includes one of the world's wettest places, the slopes of Mount Waialeale
, which average 460 in (11,684 mm) of rainfall per year.
al mesic
forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to 300 m (984.3 ft). These forests have been dominated by the native hala (Pandanus tectorius
) and hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and naturalized (Polynesian introductions
) kukui (Aleurites moluccana
) and milo (Thespesia populnea) for the past 1,000-2,000 years. The Polynesian-introduced noni (Morinda citrifolia), pia (Tacca leontopetaloides
), and kī (Cordyline fruticosa) are also common in this zone. Other native species include pololei (Ophioglossum
concinnum), ākia (Wikstroemia
spp.), loulu fan palms
(Pritchardia
spp.), ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha
), and lama (Diospyros sandwicensis
).
forests, at 750 to 1250 m (2,460.6 to 4,101 ft) on the windward
slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount Lānaihale on Lānai
, receive 1000 to 2500 mm (39.4 to 98.4 in) of rainfall annually and thus may not be true rainforest
s. The forest canopy
, dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha
), is somewhat open, but tree density is rather high. Other trees and shrubs include pāpala (Charpentiera obovata
), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis
), hame (Antidesma platyphyllum
), mēhame (A.
pulvinatum), kōpiko (Psychotria mariniana
), ōpiko (P.
mauiensis), iliahi (Santalum freycinetianum
), hōlei (Ochrosia
spp.), poolā (Claoxylon
sandwicense), kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana
), kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa
), nioi (Eugenia reinwardtiana), aiai (Streblus pendulinus
), and hōawa (Pittosporum
spp.).
) is the dominant canopy
species in wet forests, but koa (Acacia koa) is also very common. Other trees include kāwau (Ilex anomala
), alani (Melicope
clusiifolia), ōhia ha (Syzygium sandwicensis
), kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana
), ohe (Tetraplasandra
spp.), and olomea (Perrottetia
sandwicensis) as well as hāpuu (Cibotium
tree ferns). Apeape (Gunnera
petaloidea), oha wai (Clermontia spp.), hāhā (Cyanea spp.), kāmakahala (Labordia hirtella
), kanawao (Broussaisia arguta
), Phyllostegia
spp., ākala (Rubus hawaiensis
), kāmanamana (Adenostemma
lavenia), Pilea
peploides, māmaki (Pipturus albidus
), olonā (Touchardia latifolia
), and alaala wai nui (Peperomia
spp.) are common understory
plants. Vine
s include maile (Alyxia oliviformis) and hoi kuahiwi (Smilax
melastomifolia). Ieie (Freycinetia arborea
), puaakuhinia (Astelia
menziesiana) and ōlapa (Cheirodendron trigynum
) are epiphytic
flowering plant
s found in wet forests. Epiphytic fern
s, such as Adenophorus
spp., ohiaku (Hymenophyllum
recurvum), Ophioglossum
pendulum, ākaha (Asplenium nidus
), ēkaha (Elaphoglossum hirtum), and makue lau lii (Grammitis
hookeri), cover trees. Epyphytic moss
es include Acroporium fuscoflavum, Rhizogonium spiniforme, and Macromitrium owahiense. Loulu fan palms
(Pritchardia
spp.) may tower over the forest canopy.
s are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage. Dominant vegetation in bogs are shrub
s, sedges
, and grasses
. Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks. Carex
spp., Oreobolus furcatus, and Rhynchospora
rugosa are common sedges, shrubs include ōhelo kau laau (Vaccinium
calycinum) and ōhelo (V. dentatum), while grasses are represented by Dichanthelium
spp. and Deschampsia
nubigena. Dwarf varieties of ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha
vars. incana and glabriofolia) are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs. The fern
s wāwaeiole (Lycopodiella cernua
), amau (Sadleria
spp.), and uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis
) grow in bogs. Rare plants include liliwai (Acaena exigua
), naenae (Dubautia
spp.), and Argyroxiphium
spp.
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. They cover an area of 6700 km² (2,586.9 sq mi) in the windward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
lowlands and montane
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
regions of the islands. Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m (984.3 ft). Mixed mesic
Mesic habitat
In ecology, a mesic habitat is a type of habitat with a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture, e.g., a mesic forest, a temperate hardwood forest, or dry-mesic prairie. Compared to a dry habitat, a mesic habitat is moister....
forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1250 m (2,460.6 to 4,101 ft), while wet forests are found from 1250 to 1700 m (4,101 to 5,577.4 ft). Moist bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s and shrubland
Shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
s exist on montane plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
s and depressions
Depression (geology)
A depression in geology is a landform sunken or depressed below the surrounding area. Depressions may be formed by various mechanisms.Structural or tectonic related:...
. For 70 million years, the Hawaiian Islands have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including fungi, moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es, snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s, bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s, and other wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
. In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, trees are draped with vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s, orchids, fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, and mosses. This ecoregion includes one of the world's wettest places, the slopes of Mount Waialeale
Mount Waialeale
Mount Waialeale at an elevation of , is a shield volcano and the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Averaging more than of rain a year since 1912, with a record in 1982, its summit is one of the rainiest spots on earth....
, which average 460 in (11,684 mm) of rainfall per year.
Coastal mesic forests
CoastCoast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al mesic
Mesic habitat
In ecology, a mesic habitat is a type of habitat with a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture, e.g., a mesic forest, a temperate hardwood forest, or dry-mesic prairie. Compared to a dry habitat, a mesic habitat is moister....
forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to 300 m (984.3 ft). These forests have been dominated by the native hala (Pandanus tectorius
Pandanus tectorius
Pandanus tectorius is a species of Pandanus that is native to Malesia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Common names include Thatch Screwpine, Hala , Bacua , and Vacquois ....
) and hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and naturalized (Polynesian introductions
Canoe plants
Canoe plants, or Polynesian introductions, are plants taken from ancient Polynesia and transplanted to other Pacific IslandsThe term is particularly used to refer to plants brought to Hawaii 1,700 years ago by Polynesian explorers....
) kukui (Aleurites moluccana
Candlenut
Aleurites moluccana, the Candlenut, is a flowering tree in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, also known as Candleberry, Indian walnut, Kemiri, Varnish tree, Nuez de la India, Buah keras or Kukui nut tree....
) and milo (Thespesia populnea) for the past 1,000-2,000 years. The Polynesian-introduced noni (Morinda citrifolia), pia (Tacca leontopetaloides
Tacca leontopetaloides
Tacca leontopetaloides is a species of flowering plant in the yam family Dioscoreaceae, that is native to tropical Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, New Guinea, Samoa, Micronesia, and Fiji. It was intentionally brought to tropical Pacific Islands with early human migrations...
), and kī (Cordyline fruticosa) are also common in this zone. Other native species include pololei (Ophioglossum
Ophioglossum
Ophioglossum is a genus of about 25-30 species of Ophioglossales in the family Ophioglossaceae, with a cosmopolitan but primarily tropical and subtropical distribution. The name Ophioglossum comes from the Greek, and means "snake-tongue".Adders-tongues are so-called because the spore-bearing stalk...
concinnum), ākia (Wikstroemia
Wikstroemia
Wikstroemia is a genus of 55-70 species of flowering shrubs and small trees in the mezereon family, Thymelaeaceae.-Medicinal uses:Wikstroemia indica is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.-Species:...
spp.), loulu fan palms
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
(Pritchardia
Pritchardia
The genus Pritchardia consists of between 24-40 species of fan palms found on tropical Pacific Ocean islands in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuamotus, and Hawaii. The generic name honours William Thomas Pritchard , a British consul at Fiji.-Description:These palms vary in height, ranging from...
spp.), ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha
Metrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
), and lama (Diospyros sandwicensis
Diospyros sandwicensis
Diospyros sandwicensis is a species of flowering tree in the ebony family, Ebenaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. Its common name, Lama, also means enlightenment in Hawaiian. Lama is a small to medium-sized tree, with a height of and a trunk diameter of . It can be found in dry, coastal mesic,...
).
Mixed mesic forests
Mixed mesicMesic habitat
In ecology, a mesic habitat is a type of habitat with a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture, e.g., a mesic forest, a temperate hardwood forest, or dry-mesic prairie. Compared to a dry habitat, a mesic habitat is moister....
forests, at 750 to 1250 m (2,460.6 to 4,101 ft) on the windward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount Lānaihale on Lānai
Lanai
Lānai or Lanai is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is also known as the Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation. The only town is Lānai City, a small settlement....
, receive 1000 to 2500 mm (39.4 to 98.4 in) of rainfall annually and thus may not be true rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s. The forest canopy
Canopy (forest)
In biology, the canopy is the aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by plant crowns.For forests, canopy also refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and including other biological organisms .Sometimes the term canopy is used to refer to the extent...
, dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha
Metrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
), is somewhat open, but tree density is rather high. Other trees and shrubs include pāpala (Charpentiera obovata
Charpentiera obovata
Charpentiera obovata, known as Pāpala, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the pigweed family, Amaranthaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. C. obovata reaches a height of and a trunk...
), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis
Nestegis sandwicensis
Nestegis sandwicensis, commonly known as Olopua, is a species of flowering tree in the olive family, Oleaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is found on all major islands at elevations of in coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests, and, especially, dry forests...
), hame (Antidesma platyphyllum
Antidesma platyphyllum
Antidesma platyphyllum is a species of flowering tree in the leafflower family, Phyllanthaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. Common names include Hame, Haa, Mehame, Hamehame, Mehamehame, and Haāmaile. It inhabits coastal mesic forests, mixed mesic forests, wet forests, and bogs at elevations of on...
), mēhame (A.
Antidesma
Antidesma is a species of tropical plant in the Phyllanthaceae. This is a variable plant which may be short and shrubby or tall and erect, approaching 30 meters in height.It has large oval shaped leathery evergreen leaves up to about 20 centimeters long and seven wide. The flowers have a strong,...
pulvinatum), kōpiko (Psychotria mariniana
Psychotria mariniana
Psychotria mariniana, or Kōpiko, is a tree endemic to Hawaii. The plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, subfamily Rubioidae...
), ōpiko (P.
Psychotria
Psychotria is a plant genus of 1900 species in the family Rubiaceae. Members of the genus are low trees in tropical forests. The distinction between Psychotria and the genus Cephaelis are not well known and many species were formerly placed there....
mauiensis), iliahi (Santalum freycinetianum
Santalum freycinetianum
Santalum freycinetianum, Iliahi or Freycinet sandalwood, is a species of flowering tree in the European mistletoe family, Santalaceae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Its binomial name commemorates Henri Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet, a 19th-century French explorer...
), hōlei (Ochrosia
Ochrosia
Ochrosia is a genus of flowering plant in the milkweed family, Apocynaceae.Species include:* Ochrosia ackeringae Miq. * Ochrosia borbonica J.F.Gmel. * Ochrosia compta K.Schum...
spp.), poolā (Claoxylon
Claoxylon
Claoxylon is a flowering plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, comprising dioecious subshrubs to small trees. The genus comprises about 80 species, distributed in paleotropical areas: Madagascar through South and Southeast Asia, Malesia to Melanesia, Hawaii, and Australia. Half of the...
sandwicense), kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana
Myrsine lessertiana
Kōlea lau nui is a species of colicwood that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. M...
), kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa
Alphitonia ponderosa
Alphitonia ponderosa is a species of flowering tree in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is locally known as kauila, as is the related Colubrina oppositifolia.-Description:A...
), nioi (Eugenia reinwardtiana), aiai (Streblus pendulinus
Streblus pendulinus
Streblus pendulinus, commonly known as Hawaiian Roughbush or Aiai , is a species of flowering plant in the mulberry family, Moraceae, that is native to eastern Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. It is usually a small tree or shrub, reaching a height of with a trunk diameter of...
), and hōawa (Pittosporum
Pittosporum
Pittosporum is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Pittosporaceae. The genus is probably Gondwanan in origin; its present range extends from Australasia, Oceania, eastern Asia and some parts of Africa. Citriobatus is usually included here, but might be a distinct genus...
spp.).
Wet forests
Wet forests generally occur from 1250 to 1700 m (4,101 to 5,577.4 ft), but may be as low as 200 m (656.2 ft). They receive 3000 to 11250 mm (118.1 to 442.9 in) of rain per year. Ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorphaMetrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
) is the dominant canopy
Canopy (forest)
In biology, the canopy is the aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by plant crowns.For forests, canopy also refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and including other biological organisms .Sometimes the term canopy is used to refer to the extent...
species in wet forests, but koa (Acacia koa) is also very common. Other trees include kāwau (Ilex anomala
Ilex anomala
Ilex anomala, commonly known as Kāwau or Aiea, is a species of holly that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits mixed mesic and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands....
), alani (Melicope
Melicope
Melicope is a genus of about 230 species of shrubs and trees in the family Rutaceae, occurring from the Hawaiian Islands across the Pacific to tropical Asia, Australia and New Zealand...
clusiifolia), ōhia ha (Syzygium sandwicensis
Syzygium sandwicensis
Syzygium sandwicensis is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. Common names include Ōhia ha, Hā, and Pāihi. It is normally a large tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of , but is a shrub on exposed ridges...
), kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana
Myrsine lessertiana
Kōlea lau nui is a species of colicwood that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of on all main islands. M...
), ohe (Tetraplasandra
Tetraplasandra
Tetraplasandra is a genus of flowering plants in the ivy family, Araliaceae. It comprises seven species, all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.-Species:*Tetraplasandra flynnii Lowry & K.R.Wood...
spp.), and olomea (Perrottetia
Perrottetia
Perrottetia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dipentodontaceae. The fifteen species it contains occur in Asia from China to Australia, and in the Americas from Mexico to Peru.-Selected species:* Perrottetia excelsa Lund....
sandwicensis) as well as hāpuu (Cibotium
Cibotium
Cibotium is a genus of eleven species of tropical tree fern—subject to much confusion and revision—distributed fairly narrowly in Hawaii , Southeast Asia , and the cloud forests of Central America and Mexico...
tree ferns). Apeape (Gunnera
Gunnera
Gunnera is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants, some of them gigantic. The genus is the only member of the family Gunneraceae.The 40-50 species vary enormously in leaf size...
petaloidea), oha wai (Clermontia spp.), hāhā (Cyanea spp.), kāmakahala (Labordia hirtella
Labordia hirtella
Mountain labordia is a species of flowering plant in the Loganiaceae family. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
), kanawao (Broussaisia arguta
Broussaisia
Kanawao is a species of perennial flowering plant in the Hydrangea family, Hydrangeaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It belongs to a monotypic genus....
), Phyllostegia
Phyllostegia
Phyllostegia is a genus of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae.Species include:* Phyllostegia glabra* Phyllostegia hirsuta Benth.* Phyllostegia hispida Hillebr. * Phyllostegia kaalaensis H.St.John...
spp., ākala (Rubus hawaiensis
Rubus hawaiensis
Rubus hawaiensis, also called the Ākala, is a species of Rubus endemic to Hawaii. It is found on the islands of Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii in mesic to wet forest at elevations of...
), kāmanamana (Adenostemma
Adenostemma
Adenostemma is a genus of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family.It contains the following species:* Adenostemma harlingii* Adenostemma zakii* Adenostemma lavenia, also known as Adenostemma viscosum or Kāmanamana...
lavenia), Pilea
Pilea
Pilea with 600–715 species is the largest genus in the plant family Urticaceae and one of the larger genera in the Urticales and eudicot rosids....
peploides, māmaki (Pipturus albidus
Pipturus albidus
Pipturus albidus, known as Māmaki in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family, Urticaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of...
), olonā (Touchardia latifolia
Touchardia latifolia
Touchardia latifolia, commonly known as Olonā in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub in the nettle family, Urticaceae. T. latifolia is endemic to Hawaii and inhabits mesic valleys and wet forests at elevations of . Typical to many Hawaiian plants, the olonā does not have any stinging needles...
), and alaala wai nui (Peperomia
Peperomia
Peperomia is one of the 2 large genera of the Piperaceae family, with more than 1000 recorded species. Most of them are compact, small perennial epiphytes growing on rotten wood. More than 1500 species have been recorded, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, though...
spp.) are common understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
plants. Vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s include maile (Alyxia oliviformis) and hoi kuahiwi (Smilax
Smilax
Smilax is a genus of about 300-350 species, found in temperate zones, tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found , while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico...
melastomifolia). Ieie (Freycinetia arborea
Freycinetia arborea
The Ieie is a densely branched, brittle, woody climber in the screwpalm family, Pandanaceae that is endemic to the Pacific Islands. Ieie is found in moist forest on the Hawaiian, Marquesas, Austral, Society, and Cook Islands. It grows into the forest canopy, attaching itself to a host tree using...
), puaakuhinia (Astelia
Astelia
Astelia is a genus of rhizomatous tufted perennials in the family Asteliaceae which are native to the Pacific region as well as the Falkland Islands, Réunion and Mauritius...
menziesiana) and ōlapa (Cheirodendron trigynum
Cheirodendron trigynum
Cheirodendron trigynum, also known as Ōlapa or Common Cheirodendron, is a species of flowering plant in the ginseng family, Araliaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of...
) are epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s found in wet forests. Epiphytic fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, such as Adenophorus
Adenophorus
Adenophorus is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae. It is one of those formerly separated as the Grammitidaceae. There are ten species, all endemic to Hawaii.Species include:*Adenophorus abietinus*Adenophorus epigaeus...
spp., ohiaku (Hymenophyllum
Hymenophyllum
Hymenophyllum is a genus of ferns in the family Hymenophyllaceae. Its name means "membraneous leaf", referring to the very thin translucent tissue of the fronds, which gives rise to the common name filmy fern for this and other thin-leaved ferns. The leaves are generally only one cell thick and...
recurvum), Ophioglossum
Ophioglossum
Ophioglossum is a genus of about 25-30 species of Ophioglossales in the family Ophioglossaceae, with a cosmopolitan but primarily tropical and subtropical distribution. The name Ophioglossum comes from the Greek, and means "snake-tongue".Adders-tongues are so-called because the spore-bearing stalk...
pendulum, ākaha (Asplenium nidus
Asplenium nidus
Asplenium nidus is a species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii, Polynesia, Christmas Island, India, and eastern Africa...
), ēkaha (Elaphoglossum hirtum), and makue lau lii (Grammitis
Grammitis
Grammitis is a genus of ferns in the family Polypodiaceae. It had formerly been placed in the family Grammitidaceae, but this family is no longer recognized by most authors because phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences have shown that it is embedded in Polypodiaceae. The delimitation of...
hookeri), cover trees. Epyphytic moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es include Acroporium fuscoflavum, Rhizogonium spiniforme, and Macromitrium owahiense. Loulu fan palms
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
(Pritchardia
Pritchardia
The genus Pritchardia consists of between 24-40 species of fan palms found on tropical Pacific Ocean islands in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuamotus, and Hawaii. The generic name honours William Thomas Pritchard , a British consul at Fiji.-Description:These palms vary in height, ranging from...
spp.) may tower over the forest canopy.
Bogs
BogBog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage. Dominant vegetation in bogs are shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s, sedges
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae are a family of monocotyledonous graminoid flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera. These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group...
, and grasses
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
. Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks. Carex
Carex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
spp., Oreobolus furcatus, and Rhynchospora
Rhynchospora
Rhynchospora is a genus of about 250-300 species of sedges with a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes both annual and perennial species, mostly with erect 3-sided stems and 3-ranked leaves...
rugosa are common sedges, shrubs include ōhelo kau laau (Vaccinium
Vaccinium
Vaccinium is a genus of shrubs or dwarf shrubs in the plant Family Ericaceae. The fruit of many species are eaten by humans and some are of commercial importance, including the cranberry, blueberry, bilberry or whortleberry, lingonberry or cowberry, and huckleberry...
calycinum) and ōhelo (V. dentatum), while grasses are represented by Dichanthelium
Dichanthelium
Dichanthelium is genus of plants of the grass family , often known as Rosette grass.The genus Dichanthelium is only weakly distinguished from the genus Panicum, and some believe it should be included in it.- Species :...
spp. and Deschampsia
Deschampsia
Deschampsia is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. There are 30 to 40 species....
nubigena. Dwarf varieties of ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha
Metrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
vars. incana and glabriofolia) are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs. The fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s wāwaeiole (Lycopodiella cernua
Lycopodiella cernua
Lycopodiella cernua is a plant in the family Lycopodiaceae commonly known as the staghorn clubmoss. The Hawaiian name for the plant is wāwaeʻiole....
), amau (Sadleria
Sadleria
Sadleria is a genus of six species of ferns in the family Blechnaceae, all endemic to Hawaii.Species*Sadleria cyatheoides Kaulf. *Sadleria pallida Hook...
spp.), and uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis
Dicranopteris linearis
Dicranopteris linearis is a common species of fern known by many common names, including Old World forked fern and uluhe . It is one of the most widely distributed ferns of the wet Old World tropics and adjacent regions, including Polynesia and the Pacific...
) grow in bogs. Rare plants include liliwai (Acaena exigua
Acaena exigua
Acaena exigua is a very rare species of flowering plant in the rose family known by the common name liliwai. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from Kauai and west Maui. It had not been seen or collected since 1957 and was feared extinct until 1997, when one plant was discovered in a remote...
), naenae (Dubautia
Dubautia
Dubautia is a genus of flowering plant in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It contains more species than the other two genera in the silversword alliance, including cushion plants, shrubs, trees, and lianas.-Selected species:...
spp.), and Argyroxiphium
Argyroxiphium
Argyroxiphium is a small genus of five species in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. Its members are known by the common name of silversword or greensword due to their long, narrow leaves and the silvery hairs on some species. It belongs to a larger radiation of over 50 species, including the...
spp.
See also
- Oceania ecozoneOceania ecozoneOceania is one of the WWF ecozones, and unique in not including any continental land mass. The ecozone includes the Pacific Ocean islands of Micronesia, the Fijian Islands, and most of Polynesia...
- Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forestsTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forestsTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
- Hawaiian tropical dry forestsHawaiian tropical dry forestsThe Hawaiian tropical dry forests are a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. They cover an area of on the leeward side of the main islands and the summits of Niihau and Kahoolawe. These forests are either seasonal or sclerophyllous. Annual rainfall is less than and...
- List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)