Cyanea mceldowneyi

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Cyanea mceldowneyi
Status TNC G1.svg
Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Cyanea
Species:
C. mceldowneyi
Binomial name
Cyanea mceldowneyi

Cyanea mceldowneyi is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name McEldowney cyanea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Maui. [2] A 2007 count estimated 60 plants remaining in two populations. [3] It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1992. [4] Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian. [5]

This Hawaiian lobelioid is a shrub growing 2 to 3 meters tall. The leaves are up to 35 centimeters long by 9 wide and are lined with hard teeth. The leaves are prickly, especially when new. The inflorescence bears 5 to 7 tubular flowers. The petals are white with purple stripes and have prickles. [2] [4]

This species is threatened by habitat degradation due to feral pigs and exotic plant species such as Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta), glorybush (Tibouchina herbacea), and thimbleberry (Rubus rosifolius). It may also suffer from the lack of pollinators. [3]

This plant was named for a Maui forester named George McEldowney. [4]

Related Research Articles

Hawaiian lobelioids

The Hawaiian lobelioids are a group of flowering plants in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, subfamily Lobelioideae, all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This is the largest plant radiation in the Hawaiian Islands, and indeed the largest on any island archipelago, with over 125 species. The six genera involved can be broadly separated based on growth habit: Clermontia are typically branched shrubs or small trees, up to 7 metres (23 ft) tall, with fleshy fruits; Cyanea and Delissea are typically unbranched or branching only at the base, with a cluster of relatively broad leaves at the apex and fleshy fruits; Lobelia and Trematolobelia have long thin leaves down a single, non-woody stem and capsular fruits with wind-dispersed seeds; and the peculiar Brighamia have a short, thick stem with a dense cluster of broad leaves, elongate white flowers, and capsular fruits. The relationships among the genera and sections remains unsettled as of April 2022.

<i>Cyanea</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Cyanea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae. The name Cyanea in Hawaiian is hāhā. These Hawaiian lobelioids are endemic to Hawaii with over 90% of Cyanea species are found only on one island in the Hawaiian chain. They grow in moist and wet forest habitat and are largely pollinated by birds such as the Hawaiian honeycreepers, and the seeds are dispersed by birds that take the fruits. Most Cyanea are trees with few branches or none. The inflorescence is a raceme of 4 to 45 flowers which grows from the leaf axils. The fruit is a fleshy berry. There have been several theories regarding the evolution of large prickles on plants endemic to islands that lack any mammalian or reptilian herbivores. One such theory suggests that the prickles are a defense against herbivory by the moa-nalo, a few taxa of flightless ducks that went extinct on the islands within the last 1600 years.

Cyanea acuminata is a rare species of flowering plant known by the common names Honolulu cyanea. It is endemic to Oahu, where there are no more than 250 individuals remaining. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

Cyanea eleeleensis was a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name Eleele cyanea. It was endemic to Kauai, where it has been declared extinct. It was federally listed as a critically endangered species of the United States in 2010. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

Cyanea glabra is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name smooth cyanea. It is endemic to Maui, where there are twelve plants remaining in the wild. It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States with nine other Maui Nui endemics in 1999. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

<i>Cyanea hamatiflora</i> Species of bellflower plant

Cyanea hamatiflora is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name wetforest cyanea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from the islands of Maui and Hawaii, and there are probably fewer than 250 plants remaining in total. It is a federally listed endangered species. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

<i>Cyanea lobata</i> Species of flowering plant

Cyanea lobata is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name Waihee Valley cyanea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from Lanai and Maui. It is a federally listed endangered species. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

<i>Cyanea platyphylla</i> Species of plant

Cyanea platyphylla is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common names puna cyanea and flatleaf cyanea. It is endemic to the island of Hawaii, where there are fewer than 100 plants remaining in the wild. It is a federally listed endangered species. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

<i>Cyanea remyi</i> Species of flowering plant

Cyanea remyi is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name Remy's cyanea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Kauai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Cyanea, it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

<i>Cyanea shipmanii</i> Species of flowering plant

Cyanea shipmanii is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name Shipman's cyanea. It is endemic to the island of Hawaii, where it is known only from the windward slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Cyanea, it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

<i>Cyanea truncata</i> Species of plant

Cyanea truncata is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name Punaluu cyanea. It is endemic to the islands of Oahu and Molokai in Hawaii, but it is now critically endangered. It exists in cultivation and some individuals have been planted in appropriate habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

Cyanea undulata is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common names wavy cyanea and leechleaf cyanea. It is endemic to the island of Kauai, where it is in rapid decline. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.

Cyrtandra munroi is a rare species of flowering plant in the African violet family known by the common names Lanaihale cyrtandra and Munro's cyrtandra. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from the islands of Lanai and Maui. There are fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the wild. It is a shrub with hairy leaves and white flowers. It was federally listed as an endangered species in 1992. Like other Hawaiian Cyrtandra it is called ha`iwale.

<i>Diplazium molokaiense</i> Species of fern

Diplazium molokaiense is a rare species of fern known by the common name Molokai twinsorus fern. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is one of the rarest ferns. It has historically been found on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Maui, but it is thought to have been extirpated from four of them and today can be found only on Maui where fewer than 70 individual plants remain. The fern was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1994.

<i>Geranium multiflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Geranium multiflorum is a rare species of geranium known by the common names manyflower geranium, or manyflowered cranesbill. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from Haleakalā, the main volcano on the island of Maui. It was federally listed as an endangered species in 1992. Like other Hawaiian geraniums, this plant is known as hinahina and nohoanu.

<i>Cyperus pennatiformis</i> Species of plant

Cyperus pennatiformis is a rare species of sedge known by the common name coastal flatsedge. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it grows on the islands of Maui, Kauai, and Laysan. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

Melicope munroi is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae known by the common names lanahale and Munro's pelea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Lanai. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. Like other Hawaiian Melicope, this species is known as alani.

Peristylus holochila is a rare species of orchid known by the common name Hawaii bog orchid. It is endemic to Hawaii. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

Poa siphonoglossa is a rare species of grass known by the common names Kauai bluegrass and island bluegrass. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is limited to the island of Kauai. It is threatened by the loss and modification of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Schiedea haleakalensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Schiedea haleakalensis is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name Haleakalā schiedea. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui. It is threatened by the degradation of its habitat. It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1992. Its native habitat includes dry subalpine cliffs with native shrubs.

References

  1. "NatureServe Explorer". NatureServe Explorer Cyanea mceldowneyi. NatureServe. 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Cyanea mceldowneyi. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. 1 2 USFWS. Cyanea mceldowneyi Five-year Review. January 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 USFWS. Determination of endangered or threatened status for 15 plants from the island of Maui, HI. Federal Register May 15, 1992. pg 20776.
  5. USFWS Species Reports: Listed Plants