Scientific name: Marsilea villosa

Hawaiian Name: ‘Ihi‘ihi

Classification: Phylum: Pteridophyta. Family: Marsileaceae.

Origin: Endemic.

Status: Endangered.

Distribution: Ni‘ihau, O‘ahu, and Moloka‘i.

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This four-leaf clover look-alike actually is a fern and needs periodic flooding, when spores are produced, to complete its life cycle.

Only a handful of plants remain on Ni‘ihau, O‘ahu, and Moloka‘i, primarily because of habitat loss due to development, off-road vehicle damage, trampling by humans and cattle, competition with weedy species, and fire.