Treetrunk cyanea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Treetrunk cyanea |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cyanea
|
| Species: |
copelandii
|
The Cyanea copelandii is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. People often call it the treetrunk cyanea. This plant is special because it only grows in one place: the island of Maui in Hawaii.
Sadly, there are fewer than 250 of these plants left in the wild. Because it is so rare, the United States government lists it as an endangered species. In the Hawaiian language, this plant, like other Cyanea species, is known as hāhā.
Contents
What Makes This Plant Special?
The treetrunk cyanea is a type of Hawaiian lobelioid. It is a short-lived shrub that grows like a vine. You can find it in wet and moist forests.
Why Is the Treetrunk Cyanea Endangered?
This plant has two main types, called subspecies. One of them, called ssp. copelandii, is now thought to be extinct. This means it has completely disappeared from Earth.
The Extinct Subspecies
The ssp. copelandii used to live on the island of Hawaii. It died out because of feral animals like pigs. These animals are not native to Hawaii. They caused a lot of damage to the plant's home.
It is also likely that Hawaiian birds helped this plant make seeds. These birds are called Hawaiian honeycreepers. Many of these birds are also extinct now. This made it harder for the plant to reproduce.
The Remaining Subspecies
The other subspecies is called ssp. haleakalaensis. It is the only one left. Its population has shrunk to fewer than 250 plants. This is because its home is being damaged.
This damage is caused by plants and animals that are not native to Hawaii. These non-native species take over the space and resources that the treetrunk cyanea needs. The remaining plants are split into three smaller groups. Each group is getting smaller by about 25% every time a new generation of plants grows.
