Cyanea (plant) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cyanea (plant)
Cyanea lobata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Campanulaceae
Subfamily:	Lobelioideae
Genus:	Cyanea Gaudich.
Species
about 78, see text
Synonyms
Kittelia Rollandia

Cyanea is a group of flowering plants found only in Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, these plants are called hāhā. They are very special because over 90% of Cyanea species grow on just one island in Hawaii!

These plants like to live in wet and moist forests. Birds like the Hawaiian honeycreepers help them grow by carrying their pollen from flower to flower. After the flowers are pollinated, they grow into berries. Other birds then eat these berries and help spread the seeds around.

Most Cyanea plants are like small trees, often with few or no branches. Their flowers grow in clusters from where the leaves meet the stem. The fruit is a soft, fleshy berry. Some Cyanea plants have large thorns. Scientists think these thorns might have protected the plants from ancient flightless ducks called moa-nalo. These ducks lived in Hawaii a long time ago but are now extinct.

What are Cyanea Plants Like?

Cyanea plants are unique because they are found nowhere else in the world. They are part of a larger group called Hawaiian lobelioids. These plants have adapted over millions of years to the special environment of the Hawaiian Islands.

Many Cyanea species are now endangered or even extinct. This is mainly due to habitat loss and new plants and animals brought to Hawaii. Protecting these amazing plants helps keep Hawaii's natural world healthy.

How Many Kinds of Cyanea Are There?

There are about 78 different kinds, or species, of Cyanea plants. Each species has its own unique features. Some are tall trees, while others are smaller shrubs. Many of them are named after the places where they were first found.

Here are a few examples of Cyanea species:

• Cyanea acuminata – also known as Honolulu cyanea
• Cyanea angustifolia – called hāhā or 'aku
• Cyanea arborea – known as palmtree cyanea
• Cyanea fissa – found on Kauai, called Kauai cyanea
• Cyanea lobata – known as Waihee Valley cyanea
• Cyanea superba – also called Mt. Kaala cyanea

Images for kids

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  Cyanea angustifolia

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  Cyanea lobata

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  Cyanea truncata

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  Cyanea duvalliorum

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  Cyanea fissa

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  Cyanea rivularis

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  Cyanea superba

See also

In Spanish: Cyanea para niños