Cyanea rivularis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cyanea rivularis |
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| Conservation status | |
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Cyanea
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| Species: |
rivularis
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The plateau cyanea (Cyanea rivularis) is a very rare flowering plant. It belongs to the bellflower family. You can only find this plant in one place: the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaii. It is endemic to Kauaʻi, which means it naturally lives only there. Sadly, there are only three small groups of these plants left in the wild. In total, only 19 individual plants remain. Because it is so rare, the United States government officially listed it as an endangered species in 1996. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
About the Plateau Cyanea
The plateau cyanea is a type of Hawaiian lobelioid. These plants are shrubs, which are like small trees with many branches. The plateau cyanea can grow quite tall, reaching about 4 to 5 meters (about 13 to 16 feet) high. Its flowers are white with pretty blue stripes.
Where it Lives
This special plant grows in wet forest areas in Hawaii. These forests are often called tropical rainforests because they get a lot of rain. You can usually find the plateau cyanea growing right next to streams, waterfalls, and plunge pools. Plunge pools are deep pools of water at the bottom of a waterfall.
Other plants that grow in the same habitat include the ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis). These two plants form the main canopy, which is like the roof of the forest. Below them, in the understory (the plants growing under the canopy), you might find kanawao (Broussaisia arguta), ʻieʻie (Freycinetia arborea), and ʻaiea (Ilex anomala).
Why it's in Danger
The plateau cyanea faces many threats that make it hard for it to survive. Its home, the forest, is in danger from plants that are not native to Hawaii. These are called introduced species or exotic plants. They can grow very fast and take over the space and resources that native plants need.
Some of these harmful introduced plants include:
- Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta)
- Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)
- Santa Barbara daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)
Besides plants, animals also cause problems. Wild animals like pigs and goats, which are called feral ungulates, can damage the habitat by eating plants and disturbing the soil. Even small animals like rats and slugs can harm the plateau cyanea plants directly.
