Gingerleaf cyanea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gingerleaf cyanea |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cyanea
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| Species: |
asarifolia
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Cyanea asarifolia is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. People often call it the gingerleaf cyanea. In Hawaiian, it's known as haha.
This special plant only grows in one place: the island of Kauai in Hawaii. In 2005, there were fewer than 30 of these plants left in the wild. Because it's so rare, the United States government has listed it as an endangered species. This means it needs special protection to survive.
Contents
About the Gingerleaf Cyanea
What Does It Look Like?
The gingerleaf cyanea is a small shrub. It doesn't live for a very long time. Its leaves are shaped like a heart. When it blooms, it produces many flowers. A single flower cluster can have up to 40 flowers. These flowers are white with pretty purple stripes.
Where Does It Live?
This plant is a Hawaiian lobelioid. This means it's a type of plant that is unique to Hawaii. It grows only on the island of Kauai. Its natural home is in specific parts of the island.
The Story of a Rare Plant
Discovery and Early Days
Scientists first found the Cyanea asarifolia in 1970. They officially described it as a new species in 1975. The very first group of these plants found had only five or six individuals. Sadly, this first group is now thought to be gone from that area.
Facing Big Challenges
Later, another group of these plants was discovered. This group had 14 adult plants and five younger ones. But then, a very strong storm called Hurricane Iniki hit Hawaii. This hurricane caused a lot of damage to the plants. Only a few young plants, called seedlings, managed to survive.
Today, the only known group of Cyanea asarifolia has about 20 to 30 plants. Some of these plants seem to be making new seeds and growing more plants. This is good news for the species.
Helping the Plant Survive
People have tried to help this plant. They grew some plants in a special greenhouse. Then, they planted these new plants back into their natural home. However, a natural event like a landslide destroyed these newly planted individuals. This shows how hard it is to protect such a rare plant.
Why Is It Endangered?
Natural Dangers
The biggest threat to the Cyanea asarifolia is natural events. For example, landslides are a big danger. A single large landslide could wipe out the entire group of plants. This could lead to the plant becoming extinct forever.
Other Threats
The small number of plants means their gene pool is very small. This makes them less able to adapt to changes or diseases.
Many animals also threaten the plants. These include slugs, rats, and mice. Wild feral pigs can also cause damage. In addition, new plants brought to Hawaii from other places are a problem. These "exotic plants" can grow fast and take over the space and resources that Cyanea asarifolia needs.
Protecting this rare plant means working hard to keep it safe from all these dangers.
