1 Hawaiian Vascular Plants at Risk: 19991 WARREN L. WAGNER2 (Department of Botany, MRC 166, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560-0166, USA; email:
[email protected]), MARIE M. BRUEGMANN2 (Pacific Islands Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 3122, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96850, USA), DERRAL R. HERBST (Research Associate, Hawaii Biological Survey, Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817-2704, USA), & JOEL Q.C. LAU (The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Hawaii Natural Heritage Program, 1116 Smith St., Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817, USA) Hawai‘i has more endangered and threatened plants than any other state in the United States (263/699 taxa or 38% U.S. listed vascular plants). Because of the magnitude of the conservation problems in the Hawaiian Islands, it is vital that biologists, conservationists, and land managers have the most up-to-date information possible. This 1999 assessment of Hawaiian vascular plant species at risk is an update of the compilation provided by Wagner et al. (1990). It is derived from a database maintained in the Pacific Island pro- gram in the Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution. Since the 1990 assessment, much attention has been focused by many individuals and organizations on evaluating Hawaiian ecosystems and the species that comprise them. Basic research on the flora has been conducted as well as considerable effort expended to survey, conserve, and manage the dwindling and degrading natural habitat throughout the state. In order to make this 1999 assessment comprehensive, other authors representing current efforts (which include database development) in Hawai‘i to compile and track information on at risk plants were invited to participate (and are listed alphabetically on the title page).