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Plant Profile

Shark-tail Cyanea (Cyanea pinnatifida)

Dissected leaves on small plant in cultivation Photo Credit: Elizabeth Huppman

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Campanulaceae
State: HI
Nature Serve ID: 159837
Lifeform: Shrub
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/05/1993

Description:

Cyanea pinnatifida was first collected by Chamisso, the botanist on the Russian exploring expedition which visited Hawai`i in 1816-1817. For a number of years, only one plant was known in the wild, growing in a preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy. In 1998, it was observed in flower but seed was never found on this plant. Unfortunately, in August 2001 this individual died. Currently, this species is found only at the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum and the National Tropical Botanical Garden, where individuals plants propagated from the now dead wild individual plant are housed (USFWS 2002). Cyanea pinnatifida is a shrub that grows up to 3 meters in height and has long, deeply lobed leaves. Out of the axils of these leaves arise clusters of greenish-white flowers with purple stripes. In 1995, the first plant to be seen flowering in 30 years bloomed in a greenhouse at the Lyon Arboretum. This success was the result of a collaborative effort between many people and institutions in Hawaii.

Where is Shark-tail Cyanea (Cyanea pinnatifida) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Typically, this shrub grows on steep, wet, rocky slopes in diverse mesic forests at an elevation of 490 to 520 meters.

Distribution:

It grows in the Wai`anae Mountains on the island of O`ahu and has apparently been a rare species for a very long time, as only a few collections have been ever made. Once found in Kalua`a Gulch, O`ahu, Hawai`i, no individuals remain and is extinct in the wild.

States & Provinces:

Shark-tail Cyanea can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Shark-tail Cyanea (Cyanea pinnatifida)?

Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Conservation Actions

10/16/2020

Propagation efforts via tissue culture as well as seed and cuttings has been occurring at a number if institutions, including The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the DOFAW-Pahole Mid-elevation Nursery (USFWS 1998b).

10/16/2020

Re-introduction and monitoring at restoration sites in the Waianae Mountains are ongoing by the State DOFAW Oahu Botanist and the Plant Extinction Prevention Program Oahu Field Botanist.; Since the last update, dozens of seedlings have been re-established. Recently, a naturally occuring seedling was found at one of the sites.

10/16/2020

Currently, there are a 170 plants originating from 24 seedling lines housed at Lyon's Hawaiian Rare Plant Program Micropropagation Laboratory.

10/16/2020

Approximately 41 accessions consisting of over 10,000 of seeds are secured.

NatureServe Biotics

12/22/2017

The major threats to this species are feral pigs and alien plants. Loss of genetic variability in this species may also be a serious problem, as all of the cultivated and outplanted plants are descended from the single remaining wild plant.

Nellie Sugii

12/20/2017

Approximately 41 accessions consisting of over 10,000 of seeds are secured.

Nellie Sugii

12/19/2017

Extirpated in the wild, but the number of outplanted individuals are now increasing.

Nellie Sugii

12/19/2017

Currently, there are a 170 plants originating from 24 seedling lines housed at Lyon's Hawaiian Rare Plant Program Micropropagation Laboratory.

Nellie Sugii

12/19/2017

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Recorded only from Kaluaa Gulch in the Waianae Mountains, Oahu. There is now only a single wild plant remaining. Many other individuals are in cultivation or have been outplanted.

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Probably the greatest threat to this species is the risk of mortality due to environmental disturbances, like soil washout, falling rocks and trees. Other potential threats include predation by rats and slugs, as well as human-caused disturbance of the s

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

1 site 1 population 1 individual (USFWS 1998b, 2001)

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

A number of individual plants, cloned from the single wild plant, have been outplanted at a handful of locations and are being monitored for success (USFWS 1998b).

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

This species presents a special problem in that it is no longer known in the wild. Surveys need to be conducted in an around historical locations of Cyanea pinnatifida populations to be sure that any wild plants are found. Research needs for this species are numerous, and include studies on the biology and physiology of the species, as well as environmental requirement and ecological relationship studies.

Nellie Sugii

01/01/2010

Ex situ conservation is especially important for this species, because without it, there would be no hope for the recovery of this interesting species. Included in the ex situ needs for this species are propagation protocol optimization, germplasm storage, seed banking, and genetic study. (USFWS 1998b)