U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AD50

More than 75 years ago, Rock collected a specimen from a palm on Mt. Kaala that he later named Pritchardia kaalae (Beccari and Rock 1921). Edward Caum (1930) later described Pritchardia kaalae var. minima, which is not recognized in the current treatment of Hawaiian members of the family (Read and Hodel 1990). Pritchardia kaalae, a member of the palm family (Arecaceae), is a single-stemmed palm up to 5 m (16 ft) tall. The waxy, hairless leaves are thin and papery or thick and leathery. Sometimes small points, dots, or linear, rusty scales are scattered on the lower leaf surface. The flowering stalks are composed of one or more branches. The round fruits are approximately 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter. Pritchardia kaalae is distinguished from other members of the genus by the hairless or scaly leaves (Read and Hodel 1990).

Historically, Pritchardia kaalae was known from scattered populations in the central and north-central Waianae Mountains of Oahu (Beccari and Rock 1921, HHP 1994aa1 to 1994aa5). Currently 5 populations are known between the Waianae Kai-Haleauau summit divide and the Makua-Keaau Ridge, totalling about 130 individuals. These populations are located on State land, including Mt. Kaala NAR and land leased to DOD for Makua Military Reservation, and on Federal land on Schofield Barracks Military Reservation (HHP 1994aa1 to 1994aa5). Pritchardia kaalae is typically found on steep slopes and gulches in mesic forest or shrubland between elevations of 460 and 945 m (1,500 and 3,100 ft).

Habitat degradation by feral pigs and goats; fruit predation by rats; potential impacts from military activities; the alien plants Christmas berry, Maui pamakani, and prickly Florida blackberry; potential fire; and risk of extinction from naturally occurring events and/or reduced reproductive vigor due to the small number of populations are major threats to Pritchardia kaalae (HHP 1994aa1, 1994aa4, 1994aa5; C. Russell, pers. comm. 1994)

[Federal Register: August 21, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 163)] [Rules and Regulations]

[Page 43178-43184] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access