Species: Callicarpa parvifolia
Family: Lamiaceae IUCN Status: Not Evaluated Description: As a Callicarpa, this shrub typically features small clusters of purple berries--a distinctive feature of beautyberries that attracts birds (Zona, 1994). Although this species is not evaluated by the IUCN, according the Global Red List of the Japanese Threatened Plants, Callicarpa parvifolia is endangered. Image From: Flickriver, Callicarpa parvifolia by Ashitaka-f |
Species: Rhododendron boninense
Family: Ericaceae IUCN Status: Not Evaluated Description: As an evergreen perennial, this shrub flowers during the late spring and early summer. It’s particularly large white flowers attracts bees. Japanese botanist Takenoshin Nakai, described the shrub in 1920 as having withered flowers after the flowering season (Watanabe-Toma, et. al., 2011). This species has not been evaluated by the IUCN, however, the Japanese Red List classifies it as critically endangered. Image from: The Encyclopedia of Life, Rhododendron boninense |
Species: Symplocos kawakamii
Family: Symplocaceae IUCN Status: Not Evaluated Description: This evergreen shrub can reach heights of approximately 1-2 meters tall, and feature pale yellow flowers nestled amongst its leaves (Japanese Trees and Flowers). The shrub is generally found on the island of Chijijima. Presently there are approximately forty-seven individual plants left, making the species critically endangered according to the Japanese Red List (Soejima'et. al., 1994). S. kawakamii is compactly distributed, especially in some xeric—very dry and with little moisture—environments (Soejima'et. al., 1994). Dry environments such as these may exacerbate plant dwarfism and death (Soejima' et. al., 1994). Image from: Japanese Trees and Flowers, Symplocos kawakamii at Koishikawa Botanical Garden |
Species: Vaccinium boninense
Family: Ericaceae IUCN Status: Not Evaluated Description: Reaching approximately one meter tall, this rare evergreen shrub has white flowers. As a neo-endemic (Tsutsumi, 2011.)—a relatively young taxon that has recently emerged--V. boninense remains prone to loss because of its limited distribution area (Tsutsumi, 2011). Confined distribution makes the species more susceptible to threats of endangerment, for this reason the Japanese Red List officially classifies it as vulnerable. Image From: The Encyclopedia of Life, Vaccinium boninense |
Species: Myrsine maximowiczii
Family: Myrsinaceae IUCN Status: Not Evaluated Description: This branched shrub grows within dry rocks in Chichijima and Anijima. It features thick obovate--egg shaped-- leaves (ESABII). As with many of Ogasawara’s endemic woody species, Myrsine maximowiczii features small white flowers on it’s branches (Abe, 2006). Although not evaluated by the IUCN, this species is classified as vulnerable according to the Japanese Red List. Image From: Figure 2K from Abe, 2006 |
Species: Wikstroemia pseudoretusa
Family: Thymelaeaceae IUCN: Not Evaluated Description: Wikstroemia pseudoretusa is a dioecious shrub that is endemic to the Bonin Islands. They like to grow in the scrubland of rocky ridges near coastal areas as well as the forest floor of mountain areas. They tend to have yellow and apetalous flowers. Both the male and female flowers make nectar and have anthers, although the anthers of the female plants have no pollen grains (Sugawara et al., 2004). Although the IUCN Red List has not examined this species, the Global Red List of Japanese Threatened Plants classify Wikstroemia pseudoretusa as near threatened. Image from: Fig 2I from Abe, 2006 |
Species: Juniperus taxifolia
Family: Cupressaceae IUCN: Near Threatened Description: Juniperus taxifolia is a shrub that grows in the broad areas near the shores of Chichijima and Hahajima Islands. It is endemic and is the only conifer that is native to the Ogasawara Islands (Katsuki, 2013). It is described to have acute leaves and dark purplish cones (Wilson, 1930). Although the IUCN states that Juniperus taxifolia is near threatened, the Global Red List of Japanese Threatened Plants classify Juniperus taxifolia as vulnerable. Image: Juniperus taxifolia from Alpine Nurseries |
Species: Santalum boninense
Family: Santalaceae IUCN: Not Evaluated Description: Santalum boninense is a shrub with small, white, bell-shaped flowers (Abe, 2006). It belongs to the genus Santalum, which are known to have species with fragrant heartwood and produce essential oils that can be used in perfumes (Gowda et al., 2001). It rarely produces fruit even though it is frequently visited by bees (Abe, 2006). Although the IUCN Red List has not examined this species, the Global Red List of Japanese Threatened plants classify Santalum boninense as endangered. In fact, it is estimated that there are less than 250 individuals. Image from: Fig 2G in Abe, 2006 |
Species: Stachyurus macrocarpus
Family: Stachyuraceae IUCN: Not Evaluated Description: Stachyurus macrocarpus is a gynodioecious shrub that endemic to Ogasawara. Although the IUCN Red List has not examined this species, the Global Red List of Japan Threatened Plants classifies it as endangered. There is only one population remaining on the Chichi-jima Island on Ogasawara. It usually inhabits areas with a sunny understory in a shrub land and is pollinated by nocturnal moths (Abe, 2008 and Abe, 2006). Image from: Fig 2N from Abe, 2006 |
Species: Melastoma tetramerum
Family: Melastomataceae IUCN: Not Evaluated Description: Melastoma tetramerum is an endemic shrub in the Bonin Islands. Although the IUCN Red List has not examined this species, the Global Red List of Japanese Threatened Plants classify it as critically endangered. Its decline is owed to the destruction of the forest on Chichijima Island after World War II. It survives in sheltered places away from salt water. Currently, there are only two shrub species remaining and are under the protection of a Pinus forest (Shimozono et al., 1986). Image: Flowering Melastoma tetramerum from Shimozono et al., 1986 |
Species: Ligustrum micranthum
Family: Oleaceae IUCN: Not Evaluated Description: Ligustrum micranthum is the main tree species in the Ogasawara Islands. It is an evergreen shrub and is pollinated by flies (Abe, 2006 and Sugai et al., 2016). It is a gynodioecious plant, meaning it can have either female flowers on one plant and hermaphrodite flowers on another plant (Sugai et al., 2016)e to edit. Image from: Fig 2O from Abe, 2006 |