Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 7, 2026

Brighamia

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

Last revised
Aug 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
417 w
Citations
17
Source
Wikipedia ↗
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.Gray1
Species

See here

Map
     It is endemic to Hawaii2

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

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Brighamia insignis growing on Kauai, Hawaii source ↗

Brighamia are 1–2.5(–5) m tall, cremnophytic, halophytic, perennial, succulent, caudiciform plants with thick, mostly unbranched stems3 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 source ↗
Brighamia insignis fruit source ↗

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

Taxonomy

It was described by Asa Gray in 18674 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 rockii7 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

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/