Earlier this year after study the plant was named a new species of the genus being morphologically different from all other known species. It is present on six of the Hawaii islands. The genus dispersed from the oldest island, Kauai'i (5.1 mya).
The discovery was somewhat surprising since the area--mountain terrain east of Lahaina--has been studied for over one hundred fifty years. If the plant had not been flowering at the time of discovery, it might not been distinquished from the other Clermontia growing nearby. C. hanaulaensis immediately became targeted for conservation. The Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEPP) collects seeds from wild plants to preserve their existence. Oppenheimer thinks plants like the newly discovered species have a right to exist, even if it is only in cultivation.
Approximately 250 endemic Hawaiian plants have less than fifty individuals surviving in the wild. Scientists estimate that 130 plants have gone extinct. Key threats to Hawaii's native plants include invasive species such as slugs, pigs and rats. On Maui the invasive axis deer are a particular problem, along with the lack of native forest birds that provide pollination services.
PEPP works with partners in conservation to save native plants from extinction. Sometimes that means working with reluctant land owners who need convincint that conservation is worthwhile. Despite obstacles, Oppenheimer remains optimistic. “All the issues can be addressed and the problems solved if we have enough resources,” he told an interviewer. He continued, “It would be easy to be sucked into a negative thought process of gloom and doom, It’s surprisingly emotional; To me, that underscores the kind of people that work in conservation.”