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Plant Profile

(Cyanea maritae)

A shrub in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), is found only on Maui. Currently, there are six individuals remaining on west Maui: two individuals in Kaluanui, in the lowland wet ecosystem; four individuals in the wet cliff ecosystem; and one individual in the montane mesic ecosystem. Photo Credit: Hank Oppenheimer/US Fish and Wildlife Service © 2009
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Campanulaceae
  • State: HI
  • Nature Serve ID: 877180
  • Lifeform: Shrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection:
Description:

Cyanea maritae is an endemic shrub with prickly trunks and flower of white and purple in color. A white latex sap can be collected from the prickles. Its wet montane forest habitat is threatened by habitat degradation by feral pigs and domesticated livestock, fruit and stem destruction by rats, and competition with introduced plant species.

Where is (Cyanea maritae) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Mesic forest on the northwestern slopes of Haleakal in the Waiohiwi watershed. Sterile specimens were collected farther east at Kipahulu Valley in 1919.

Distribution:

This species is known only from around 50 individuals in east Maui, observed in 2004.

States & Provinces:

can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve (Cyanea maritae)?

  • Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

    Not Sponsored
    Assigned 06/09/17
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 10/10/2020
      • Genetic Research

    Research efforts include developing proper horticultural protocols and pest management, surveying ex-situ holdings and conduct molecular fingerprinting, conducting pollination biology and seed dispersal studies, and mapping genetic diversity in the surviving populations to guide future re-introduction and augmentation efforts.

    Nellie Sugii, Kahoali`i K. Keahi-Wood
    • 07/15/2017

    Threats include feral pigs, grazing and trampling by cattle, fruit predation and stem destruction by rats, and competition from alien plant species.

    Nellie Sugii, Kahoali`i K. Keahi-Wood
    • 07/15/2017

    One remaining site exists containing two populations with fewer than 20 adult and juvenile plants combined.

    Nellie Sugii, Kahoali`i K. Keahi-Wood
    • 07/15/2017

    Research efforts include developing proper horticultural protocols and pest management, surveying ex-situ holdings and conduct molecular fingerprinting, conducting pollination biology and seed dispersal studies, and mapping genetic diversity in the surviving populations to guide future re-introduction and augmentation efforts.

    Nellie Sugii, Kahoali`i K. Keahi-Wood
    • 07/15/2017

    Conservation needs include surveillance of historic range for surviving populations, establishment secure exsitu stocks with complete representation of remaining individualsl, augmention of wild population and establishment of new populations in safe harbors.

    Nellie Sugii, Kahoali`i K. Keahi-Wood
    • 07/15/2017

    Ex-situ collection needs include surveys for populations and current distribution in known and likely habitats, as well as monitoring of plants for insect damage and plant diseases.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Cyanea maritae
    Authority Lammers & H. Oppenh.
    Family Campanulaceae
    CPC Number 44881
    ITIS 845369
    USDA CYMA23
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Haha
    Associated Scientific Names Cyanea maritae
    Distribution This species is known only from around 50 individuals in east Maui, observed in 2004.
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Hawaii SNR
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    A shrub in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), is found only on Maui. Currently, there are six individuals remaining on west Maui: two individuals in Kaluanui, in the lowland wet ecosystem; four individuals in the wet cliff ecosystem; and one individual in the montane mesic ecosystem. Photo Credit: Hank Oppenheimer/US Fish and Wildlife Service © 2009

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