Limahuli Valley cyanea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Limahuli Valley cyanea |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cyanea
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| Species: |
kuhihewa
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The Cyanea kuhihewa is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. People also call it the Limahuli Valley cyanea. This plant grows only on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is so rare that only two grown plants are known to exist in the wild. Like other plants in the Cyanea group, it is known as haha in Hawaiian.
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About the Limahuli Valley Cyanea
This special Hawaiian plant is a "treelet." This means it is a small tree. It can grow from about 30 centimeters (1 foot) to over 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. Its leaves are long and narrow. They can be up to 38 centimeters (15 inches) long and 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) wide. The plant produces beautiful purple-pink flowers. These flowers grow in a cluster called a raceme.
A Mistaken Identity!
When this plant was first found, scientists thought it was a different species. They believed it was Cyanea linearifolia, a plant that was already extinct. Everyone was excited about finding a plant thought to be gone forever!
But after looking at it more closely, scientists realized it was not C. linearifolia. It was actually a brand new species! In 1996, they gave it the name Cyanea kuhihewa. The name kuhihewa comes from a Hawaiian word. It means "to make a mistake" or "to not recognize someone at first." This name perfectly fits the story of its discovery!
A Plant's Journey: From Lost to Found
The first time a sample of this plant was collected was in 1991. The very next year, a big storm hit its home. Hurricane Iniki seriously damaged the area where the plant lived. Over time, the single group of plants slowly disappeared. By 2006, people thought the Cyanea kuhihewa might be extinct in the wild.
But there was good news! In 2017, the plant was found again. This rediscovery gave hope for its future.
Threats to the Plant
Even though it was rediscovered, the Cyanea kuhihewa still faces many dangers.
- Weeds: Other plants that are not native to Hawaii grow quickly. They compete with the Cyanea kuhihewa for sunlight, water, and space. Some of these harmful weeds include Clidemia hirta, Rubus rosifolius, and Sphaeropteris cooperi.
- Animals: Wild animals also cause problems. Pigs dig up the ground. Rats and slugs can eat the plants or their seeds. These actions damage the plant's home.
Helping the Cyanea Survive
Scientists and conservationists are working hard to protect this rare plant.
- Seed Collection: They have collected seeds from the wild plants. These seeds are stored safely in special places. Two of these places are the National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Lyon Arboretum.
- Restoration: Conservationists hope to plant these seeds back into the wild. They plan to restore the Cyanea kuhihewa in the NTBG's Limahuli Preserve. This effort will help the plant grow stronger and increase its numbers.
