Cyanea dolichopoda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cyanea dolichopoda |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cyanea
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| Species: |
dolichopoda
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Cyanea dolichopoda was a special type of shrub that belonged to the bellflower family. It was found only on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, meaning it was endemic to that one place. Like other plants in the Cyanea group, it was known as haha in the Hawaiian language.
Scientists first discovered this plant in 1990. Sadly, it has not been seen growing in the wild since 1992. This makes it a very rare and important plant to learn about.
Where Did Cyanea dolichopoda Live?
This unique Hawaiian lobelioid plant was found in a place called the Blue Hole. The Blue Hole is a deep valley on Kauai, close to the Wailua River. It's a very wet area with lots of waterfalls and tall, steep cliffs that can reach up to 900 meters high.
The Blue Hole gets a lot of rainfall, which makes it a lush but difficult place to explore. Only four of these plants were ever found. Three were young plants, and one was just starting to flower. Because the plant was so clearly a new species and seemed to be disappearing quickly, scientists gave it a name right away.
Why Is This Plant Extinct?
The IUCN (a big group that studies nature) has officially said that Cyanea dolichopoda is extinct. This means it no longer exists anywhere on Earth.
The place where it lived was very steep and hard for people to reach. Even though it's officially extinct, some people still think it's "very likely" that more of these plants might be found in the future. Because of this small hope, the plant was added to the endangered species list in the United States in 2010. Being on this list helps protect plants and animals that are at risk of disappearing forever.
