Palolo Valley rollandia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palolo Valley rollandia |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cyanea
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| Species: |
koolauensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Rollandia angustifolia |
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Cyanea koolauensis is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. People also call it the Palolo Valley rollandia or narrowleaf rollandia. This plant grows only on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Specifically, it is found in the Koʻolau Mountains. It is an endangered species, meaning it is at high risk of disappearing forever. In the Hawaiian language, this plant, like other Cyanea species, is known as haha.
About the Palolo Valley Rollandia
This special plant is a type of Hawaiian lobelioid. It grows as a shrub, which is a woody plant smaller than a tree. The Cyanea koolauensis can reach a height of about 1 to 1.5 meters (about 3 to 5 feet). It has beautiful dark red flowers.
Where This Plant Lives
As of 2009, scientists knew of only 10 small groups of Cyanea koolauensis plants. These groups are spread out along the high peaks of the Koʻolau Mountains. In total, there were about 160 individual plants. Only one of these groups had more than 50 plants. Many of these rare plants grow on land used for military training.
Why It's in Danger
The Cyanea koolauensis faces many threats that make it an endangered species. These threats include:
- Military Activities: Plants can be stepped on or damaged by fires from military training.
- Hikers: People walking on trails can accidentally trample the plants.
- Feral Pigs: Wild pigs cause damage to the plant's home. They dig up the ground and eat plants.
- Flooding: Heavy rains can cause floods that harm the plants and their habitat.
- Trail Maintenance: Work done to keep hiking trails clear can sometimes disturb the plants.
- Invasive Plants: Plants brought from other places, like Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta) and moho (Heliocarpus popayanensis), grow fast. They can take over the space and resources that Cyanea koolauensis needs to survive.
Protecting the remaining plants and their habitat is very important to help this unique Hawaiian species survive.
