Endangered Pokulakalaka Tree

by Heidi Fickinger

Title

Endangered Pokulakalaka Tree

Artist

Heidi Fickinger

Medium

Photograph - Photographic Print

Description

This tree with the chains of exotic flowers is the critically endangered Pōkūlakalaka (Polyscias racemosa) tree. The tree is only found on Kauai Island and very few are known to remain in the wild. In the wild they are threatened by a multitupe of invasive plant species, being browsed by introduced feral goats and also by several species of introduced beetles. Although the tree can be cultivated in gardens they are still vulnerable to the beetles that bore into the trees. A concerted effort is underway to plant nursery-grown trees to remote locations in the wild on Kauai so that this unique tree does not disappear.

Uploaded

September 13th, 2020

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