Brighamia insignis  Brighamia insignis is an endangered plant that is endemic to sea cliffs on the Na’Pali Coast and Ha'upu Ridge on the island of Kauai. Overgrazing, human development, and competition from invasive weeds have reduced this species to only twenty individuals in four naturally occurring populations. The extinction of its pollinator, a sphingid moth, has made it all but impossible for Brighamia insignis to reproduce. Plant conservationists go to great lengths -rappelling over steep cliff edges - to exchange pollen among plants and to collect seeds that can be grown and stored in botanical gardens and seed banks. |
