Kokee Stream Melicope

Description

Melicope degeneri is a rare species of flowering plant in the citrus family known by the common names Kokee Stream melicope[1] and Degener's pelea.[2] It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Hawaiian Melicope, this species is known as alani.[3] This is a shrub or tree with oppositely arranged leaves, flowers usually in clusters of three, and cube-shaped fruits.[2] It grows in wet mountain forests.[4] The type specimen of this plant was collected in 1926.[2] The species was not seen again and was thought to be extinct until its 1993 rediscovery. Today there are 22 or 23 known individuals.[4] This plant is threatened by the degradation of its habitat by the activity of feral goats and pigs and competition with non-native plants.