Rare Plant Main

Projects for the Island of Kauai

Plant Habitat Management
Exclosure Maintenance

Plant Population Management
Kokee Rare Plant Facility

Plant Habitat Management
Exclosure Maintenance

Objectives:
a. Continue to maintain the current rare and endangered plant exclosures to protect endangered plant taxa from habitat destruction by feral ungulates.
b. Control specific alien species contributing ground fuel for fires.
c. Provide a protected environment for outplanting of select species trials for these and other rare plant species.

The objectives were met by:

• Hibicadelphus distans exclosure maintenance was accomplished with 14 hours of helicopter charter for transporting personnel and equipment into Koaie Valley (Waimea Canyon). 34 personnel days were utilized to do fence repairs, weeding, herbicide application, tree cutting, and monitoring.
• "Piwa" exclosures (4) protect over 200 H. distans plants and other T/E species that have been outplanted over the past seven years. Hibiscadelphus distans plants of the 1995 job are now producing seeds that have been germinated and planted back into these exclosures. In two of the exclosures, the H. distans have been able to establish seedlings under the outplanted stock. Sizes vary from 1" to 12" in height.
• The Kokia kauaiensis also started to flower the past 4 seasons have been able to produce viable seed. Munroidendron racemosum and Delissea rhytidosperma are also producing seeds within exclosure. Numerous wildlings of Rauvolfia sandwicensis, and Hibiscus waimeae subsp. waimeae have flourished with more consistent rains within the canyon over the past 3 seasons.
• Caesalpinia kavaiensis, Kokia kauaiensis, Munroidendron racemosum, Lipochaeta waimeaensis, Delissea rhytidosperma, Solanum sandwicense, and Brighamia insignis are now flowering in the exclosures.

Additional Information:
Maintenance of enclosures completed by the Section 6 funded employees include:

• Delissea rhytidosperma (Kuia NAR) exclosure maintained by removal of fallen branches off of the fenceline. No feral animal damage to the plants.
• Nualolo Trail (Kuia NAR) enclosure with Solanum sandwicense (collect seed) and Xylosma crenatum. (Wild) Repair fence and remove noxious weeds (Blackberry). No seed from wild X. crenatum.
• Kahoaloha Valley (Lapa) enclosure with Hibiscadelphus distans, Munroidendron racemosum, Kokia kauaiensis and Caesalpinia kavaiensis have flowered for the past two seasons but no viable seeds yet. Weeding and fence repair completed.
• Kahuamaa Flat (Kokee State Park) with Psychotria grandiflora (wild). Fence maintenance of two enclosures protecting seven wild plants. No collection of fruit.
• Psychotria hobdyi (wild) fenced enclosure checked plants for seeds and repaired the fence in Mahanaloa valley (Kuia NAR).
• Fence maintenance of enclosure and seed collection with Pteralyxia kauaiensis within Kuia NAR.
• Fence maintenance of enclosure with Wollastonia fauriei within Kuia NAR.
• Kokia kauaiensis exclosure in Paaiki Valley had the fence repaired as well as monitored for flowering and seeds.
• Poa siphonoglossa enclosure maintenance of removing branches from the fence at Puu Ka Pele Forest Reserve.
• Kalalau Rim outplanting site volunteer groups (five) participated in weeding and outplanting of native plants and listed T/E species.
• Fence repair of the outplanting site protecting Scaevola coriacea, Munroidendron racemosum, Sesbania tomentosa and weeding of the Kalepa Forest Reserve site.
• Sesbania tomentosa watering, weeding and fertilizing of Kawaiele Bird Sanctuary site.
• Nothocestrum peltatum exclosure site on west rim of Waimea Canyon fence had to be repaired because of fallen branches and feral animal activity.
• Kumuwela Ridge's Alsinidendron viscosum exclosure with planted Euphorbia haeleeleana fence repaired of fallen branches and animal actions.
• Kauhao Ridge exclosure maintained and outplanted with Abutilon menziesii, Caesalpinia kavaiensis, Munroidendron racemosum, Nototrichium divaricatum, Scaevola coriacea, and Lipochaeta micrantha.
• Kaulaula Valley (Kepapa Springs) outplanting site fence repairs and weeding done while protecting Wilkesia hobdyi.
• Munroidendron racemosum, and Hibiscus clayi exclosure site on Nounou Mountain (Sleeping Giant) fence repaired and guava and Clidemia removed.
• Stephen Weller's exclosures (five) in Mahanaloa Valley (Kuia NAR) were maintained. Four of the five fences were damaged by falling branches and needed considerable time

Delissea rhytidosperma Enclosure Maintenance

Objectives:
a. Continue to maintain the current rare and endangered plant exclosures to protect endangered plant taxa from habitat destruction by feral ungulates.
b. Control specific alien species contributing ground fuel for fires.
c. Provide a protected environment for outplanting of select species trials for these and other rare plant species.
Performance: Maintenance of the enclosures required DOFAW personnel to hike to the site. Fence repairs were accomplished by tightening the barbed wire and hog wire stays and removal of a koa branch. No animal/fallen tree damage occurred to the plants. The mature plants are surviving but no mature fruit or regeneration was noticed at the time. Two enclosures are now protecting six plants in the Mahanaloa drainage portion of the Kuia NAR and Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve. In addition to regularly schedule maintenance of the fences, DOFAW foresters did botanical surveys in the upper Kuia and Kawaiula valleys in search of more Delissea species. These surveys required 2 hours of helicopter time for personnel transport into the remote portions of these valleys. Total Man Days= 20

Plant Population Management
Kokee Rare Plant Facility

Objectives: To increase the probability of the most rare Kauai plant species survival by expanding the number of species currently being propagated at the Kokee Nursery. This will increase the genetic diversity of these outplanted species as they are introduced into protected areas within their historic range. Some plant materials may be distributed to cooperator nurseries for scientific study and to maintain representative gene pools of selected species.

The objectives were met by:

• Funding provided for two full time workers and a Research horticulturist. The horticulturist resigned after two months into the fiscal year to pursue his academic interests and degree in Hawaiian flora and culture. Native plant propagation and outplantings continued throughout the remainder of the year by Kauai District personnel paid by Section 6 funds and district staff.
• This funded project included the propagation of 26 listed endangered species and other rare Kauai species. These species were outplanted at the Kalalau Rim, Kahoaloha, Kaulaula, Kauhao, Koaie Valley, and West Rim of Waimea Canyon. Propagation and hardening of these Hawaiian plant species for outplanting was accomplished at the Kokee Rare Plant facility. These species included: Caesalpinia kavaiensis (6), Charpentiera densiflora (2), Hibiscadelphus distans (178), Munroidendron racemosum (90), Myrsine linearifolia (3), Nothotricum divaricatum (46) Phyllostegia waimeae (18), Remya kauaiensis (2), Solanum sandwicense (1), Capparis sandwichiana (5), Delissea rhytidosperma (18), Dubautia latifolia (20), Hibiscus clayi (35), Lipochaeta micrantha (64), Lipochaeta waimeaensis (4), Lipochaeta fauriei (15), Schiedea stellarioides (10), Scaevola coriacea (29), Chamaesyce halemanui (3), Tetraplasandra flynni (18), Phyllostegia renovans (9), Hillebrandia sandwicensis (11), Hibiscus waimeae ssp. hannerae (43), Poa sandvicensis (21), Rauvolfia sandwicensis (17), Zanthoxylum dipetalum var. dipetalum (1), Pteralyxia kauaiensis (1), Stenogyne kealiae (4), Marattia douglasii (2), Psychotria hobdyi (2), Ranunculus mauiensis (28), and Lysimachia kalalauensis (9).
• Munroidendron racemosum and Hibiscus clayi collected by DOFAW personnel from the Nounou Mountain enclosure, providing outplanting stock needed for propagation and planting into the Wailua Experiment Station outplanting site. The Kauai Native Plant Society volunteers assisted in weeding and the removal of Clidemia, guava and other invasive species from the area. The site continues to recover from animal and human disturbance.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS:
1. DOFAW crew (four), constructed a five foot hog wire/barbed wire fenced exclosure of approximately 60'X90' protecting Bonamia menziesii, within the Kekaha Game Management Area's, Kahelunui Valley. This is an expansion of an existing enclosure that is protecting the Marattia douglasii. Weeding within the Marattia douglasii removed lantana. A cooperative agreement fostering the protection of Hawaiian plants and hunting program enabled DOFAW to secure and expand this site.
2. DOFAW crew maintained, weeded, and outplanted in the Wailua Experiment Station site. Outplanting of Hibiscus waimeae ssp. hannerae (10), Hibiscus brackenridgei (2) and Munroidendron racemosum (6), was added to this lowland plant community location.
3. DOFAW crew (3) repaired the fence protecting 22 Isodendrion laurifolium in Kahoaloha Valley. This site is showing the recovery of ferns and the flowering of the Isodendrion. No seeds have been collected to date.

The lack of good propagative material and the departure of the horticulturist, created a void in utilizing the resources on hand. Plant material from NTBG helped fill in some of the gaps of collection and propagation. The funding of the existing positions to cover pay increases delayed the rehiring of a horticulturist thus adding to the problems of plant recovery. The accomplishments that are reflected here are direct results of DOFAW personnel going "beyond the call" to enhance our natural resources.

Publications or in-house reports resulting from this work:
1. DOFAW NURSERY notes on germination procedures.
2. DOFAW OUTPLANTING RECORDS.

Additional Information:

• RCUH hired personnel (two) field crewmembers assist DOFAW Forestry Workers in doing maintenance of 14 fenced enclosures throughout the year. Work included fence repair, trail maintenance, outplanting, and noxious weed control.
• Seed collection of Pteralyxia kauaiensis, Lipochaeta fauriei from Mahanaloa Valley was accomplished along with Schiedea nuttallii, Peucedanum sandwicense and Hedyotis flynni from Kuia NAR.
• Remya kauaiensis seeds collected from the Makaha Valley location.
• Kawaiula Valley (Kuia NAR) located populations of Euphorbia haeleeleana, Joinvillea ascendens (collected seed), Nothocestrum peltatum, Psychotria hobdyi, Remya kauaiensis, and Lysimachia kalalauensis monitored for seeds.
• A new location for Poa siphonoglossa (two) found on the north face of Kauhao ridge but no seeds available. Zanthoxylum dipetalum found in the same area.
• Nothocestrum latifolium flowering in Kalalau Rim Exclosure but no fruit to date.
  

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