Brighamia is a genus of plants in the family Campanulaceae endemic to Hawaii.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
Description Vegetative characteristics
Brighamia are 1–2.5(–5) m tall, cremnophytic, halophytic, perennial, succulent, caudiciform plants with thick, mostly unbranched stemsGemmill, 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. bearing numerous obovate, sessile or petiolate, nearly entire, rosette-like leaves at the apex of the stem. The stem and foliage produce latex. Generative characteristics
The axillary racemes bear white or yellow, fragrant, tubular, flowers.
Taxonomy It was described by Asa Gray in 1867Brighamia A.Gray. (n.d.-b). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://www.ipni.org/n/5627-1 with Brighamia insignis as the type species.John, H. S. (1969). Monograph of the genus Brighamia (Lobeliaceae). Hawaiian plant studies 29. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 62(2), 187-204. Species The genus has two species: Brighamia insignis Brighamia rockii
Distribution and habitat The genus is endemic to Hawaii.
Conservation Brighamia species are threatened by extinction, as Brighamia rockii is Critically Endangered (CR)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. and Brighamia insignis is already Extinct in the Wild (EW).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. Both Brighamia rockiiBrighamia rockii H.St.John. (n.d.). BGCI PlantSearch. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://plantsearch.bgci.org/taxon/35190 and Brighamia insignis are kept in ex-situ collections in botanic gardens.Brighamia insignis A.Gray. (n.d.). BGCI PlantSearch. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://plantsearch.bgci.org/taxon/18882 Brighamia insignis is also cultivated as a house plant.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 The Brighamia insignis in cultivation have only limited genetic diversity.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/
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