Cyanea heluensis

Cyanea heluensis

cover image of cyanea heluensis

Names

  • ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: n/a
  • Scientific: Cyanea heluensis

Conservation Status

  • Plant Extinction Prevention Program Target

Species Information

Cyanea heluensis is a rare plant that was found near West Maui. It was first encountered in 2010 and formally named in 2020 (Oppenheimer, 2020). Its flowers are long, white, and gently curved. Cyanea heluensis attracts bird pollinators with its orange fruit (Oppenheimer, 2020). Only one single plant was ever found, but Maui Plant Extinction Prevention Program, Olinda Rare Plant Facility staff, and Forestry and Wildlife have grown clones of it in the nursery and planted it back into the area where the plant was found. 

Distribution

West Maui.

Habitat

Lowland wet forest with a nearly closed canopy of ‘õhi’a and other native trees.

Threats

  • Rats
  • Parasites 

References & Additional Resources

Oppenheimer, Hank (20 November 2020). “A new species of Cyanea Gaud. (Lobelioideae, Campanulaceae) from Maui, Hawaiʻi”. PhytoKeys (167): 1–11. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.167.55107.

Photos