Photo by Keith Robinson ©1997
Seeds of the delicate pink Delissea rhytidosperma, an
endangered plant, are illegal fare for home gardeners to grow.

Rare seeds a holiday
stocking stuffer?

A recent cache of 1,200 seeds from the graceful pink Delissea rhytidosperma may be available in time for holiday gift giving. Only 19 surviving Delisseas exist in two wild populations.

It's illegal for home gardeners to grow endangered plants. But Wayne Ching, the state protection forester, is revising that rule of the Division of Forestry & Wildlife in the state Department of Land & Natural Resources.

Barring major changes by the attorney general, "The state is anticipating the final rules will be out in a couple of months," Ching said.

Then, agencies like Lyon Arboretum, which has the 1,200 Delissea seeds hovering in the wings for plant lovers, can start distribution.

"There are 279 plants on the list of endangered species at the moment," said Arboretum assistant researcher Gregory Koob. "We could easily provide plants of about 15 of those, including Cyanea pinnatifida and Hibiscus brackenridgei. The latter yellow beauty is the state flower.

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Catherine Kekoa Enomoto, Star-Bulletin