Brighamia

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Brighamia
Brighamia insignis flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Subfamily: Lobelioideae
Genus: Brighamia
Type species
Brighamia insignis A.Gray[1]
Species

See here

     It is endemic to Hawaii[2]

Brighamia is a genus of plants in the family Campanulaceae endemic to Hawaii.[2]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Brighamia insignis growing on Kauai, Hawaii

Brighamia are 1–2.5(–5) m tall, cremnophytic, halophytic, perennial, succulent, caudiciform plants with thick, mostly unbranched stems[3] bearing numerous obovate, sessile or petiolate, nearly entire, rosette-like leaves at the apex of the stem.[1] The stem and foliage produce latex.[1]

Generative characteristics

Flowering Brighamia rockii
Brighamia insignis fruit

The axillary racemes bear white or yellow, fragrant, tubular, flowers.[1]

Taxonomy

It was described by Asa Gray in 1867[4] with Brighamia insignis A.Gray as the type species.[1]

Species

The genus has two species:[2]

Distribution and habitat

The genus is endemic to Hawaii.[2]

Conservation

Brighamia species are threatened by extinction, as Brighamia rockii is Critically Endangered (CR)[5] and Brighamia insignis is already Extinct in the Wild (EW).[6] Both Brighamia rockii[7] and Brighamia insignis are kept in ex-situ collections in botanic gardens.[8] Brighamia insignis is also cultivated as a house plant.[9] The Brighamia insignis in cultivation have only limited genetic diversity.[10]

References

  1. John, H. S. (1969). Monograph of the genus Brighamia (Lobeliaceae). Hawaiian plant studies 29. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 62(2), 187-204.
  2. Brighamia A.Gray. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:5627-1
  3. Gemmill, C. E., Ranker, T. A., Ragone, D., Perlman, S. P., & Wood, K. R. (1998). Conservation genetics of the endangered endemic Hawaiian genus Brighamia (Campanulaceae). American Journal of Botany, 85(4), 528-539.
  4. Brighamia A.Gray. (n.d.-b). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://www.ipni.org/n/5627-1
  5. Walsh, S., Opgenorth, M., Keir, M., Nyberg, B. & Wood, K. 2022. Brighamia rockii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T44081A83789301. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T44081A83789301.en. Accessed on 07 June 2026.
  6. Walsh, S., Nyberg, B. & Wood, K. 2023. Brighamia insignis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T44080A184207893. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T44080A184207893.en. Accessed on 07 June 2026.
  7. Brighamia rockii H.St.John. (n.d.). BGCI PlantSearch. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://plantsearch.bgci.org/taxon/35190
  8. Brighamia insignis A.Gray. (n.d.). BGCI PlantSearch. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://plantsearch.bgci.org/taxon/18882
  9. Leon, G. (2024, November 29). Houseplant of the week: Hawaiian palm. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/29/houseplant-of-the-week-hawaiian-palm
  10. Yunker, S. (2022). Another Native Kauai Plant Is Now Considered ‘Extinct In The Wild.’ Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://civilbeat.org/2022/10/another-native-kauai-plant-is-now-considered-extinct-in-the-wild/