Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered Status for Thirteen Plants From the Island of Hawaii, State of Hawaii

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) determines endangered status pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for 13 plants: Clermontia drepanomorpha ('oha wai), Cyanea platyphylla (haha), Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (hau kuahiwi), Hibiscadelphus hualalaiensis (hau kuahiwi), Melicope zahlbruckneri (alani), Neraudia ovata (no common name (NCN)), Phyllostegia racemosa (kiponapona), Phyllostegia velutina (NCN), Phyllostegia warshaueri (NCN), Pleomele hawaiiensis (hala pepe), Pritchardia schattaueri (loulu), Sicyos alba ('anunu), and Zanthoxylum dipetalum var. tomentosum (a'e). All 13 taxa are endemic to the island of Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands. The 13 plant taxa and their habitats have been threatened by one or more of the following--competition for space, light, water, and nutrients by naturalized, introduced vegetation; habitat degradation by wild, feral, or domestic animals (cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep); agricultural and residential development and recreational activities; habitat loss and damage to plants from fires; predation by animals (cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, insects, and rats); and natural disasters such as volcanic activity. Due to the small number of existing individuals and their very narrow distributions, these 13 taxa and their populations are subject to an increased likelihood of extinction and/or reduced reproductive vigor from natural disasters. This final rule implements the Federal protection provisions provided by the Act for listed plants. Listing under the Act also triggers listed status for these 13 taxa under State law.