Dunbar's Cyanea / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Dunbar's Cyanea (Cyanea dunbariae)

Cyanea dunbarii, haha, endemic genus. Photo Credit: Gerald D. Carr © 1975-2005
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Campanulaceae
  • State: HI
  • Nature Serve ID: 148030
  • Lifeform: Shrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection:
Description:

Ravine cyanea's inflorescence is described as smaller bunches of salverform white flowers. Due to the threats of invasive species, floods, and feral pig predation, it is believed that there are less than 15 individuals left in its native range. Attempts to propagate the ravine cyanea in a greenhouse were made in 2006 by the National Tropical Botanical Garden at its Hawaii-based institution, but the first generation plants did not survive (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 2008). Further actions by Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources have been made in an effort to save this endangered species, including the development of a recovery plan.

Where is Dunbar's Cyanea (Cyanea dunbariae) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is found in mesic to wet forest on moderate to steep slopes along a stream.

Distribution:

Initially thought to be extinct since its last observation in 1918, the endemic shrub species, ravine cyanea, was identified in 1992 in Mokomoko Gulch on the island of Moloka'i.

States & Provinces:

Dunbar's Cyanea can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Dunbar's Cyanea (Cyanea dunbariae)?

  • Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    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

    • 10/05/2020
      • Living Collection

    The Olinda Rare Plant Facility (2012) has two individuals represented in their nursery for seed production and outplanting efforts.

    • 10/05/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Seed Conservation Laboratory (2013) contains more than 58,000 seeds of C. dunbariae

    • 10/05/2020
      • Reintroduction

    In 2011, 20 individuals of C. dunbariae propagated from seed at the Olinda Rare Plant Nursery on Maui were transported to Molokai for eventual reintroduction (PEPP 2011).

    • 10/05/2020
      • Seed Collection

    In 2011, the Plant Extinction Prevention Program monitored and collected seeds from the wild population at Mokomoko and the outplanted population at Kalamaula (PEPP 2012).

    • 10/05/2020
      • Reintroduction

    In 2012, the Plant Extinction Prevention Program outplanted 32 individuals of C. dunbariae in the Kalamaula area of Molokai and scouted sites nearby for other potential reintroduction sites (PEPP 2012).

    • 10/05/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Attempts to propagate the ravine cyanea in a greenhouse were made in 2006 by the National Tropical Botanical Garden at its Hawaii-based institution, but the first generation plants did not survive (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 2008).

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

    Threats include competition with alien plants and a risk of extinction from naturally occurring events (such as landslides or flooding) as well as reduced reproductive vigor due to the small number of individuals in the only known population rats, axis deer and pigs.

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

    2 remaining sites exist on the island of Molokai containing 3 populations with only 9 more individuals, observed in 2004. There were 4 mature individuals, 1 immature individual, and 4 seedlings (DLNR 2006).

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

    In 2011, 20 individuals of C. dunbariae propagated from seed at the Olinda Rare Plant Nursery on Maui were transported to Molokai for eventual reintroduction (PEPP 2011). The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Seed Conservation Laboratory (2013) contains more than 58,000 seeds of C. dunbariae. The Olinda Rare Plant Facility (2012) has two individuals represented in their nursery for seed production and outplanting efforts.

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

    In 2012, the Plant Extinction Prevention Program outplanted 32 individuals of C. dunbariae in the Kalamaula area of Molokai and scouted sites nearby for other potential reintroduction sites (PEPP 2012). In 2011, the Plant Extinction Prevention Program monitored and collected seeds from the wild population at Mokomoko and the outplanted population at Kalamaula (PEPP 2012). In 2012, the Plant Extinction Prevention Program constructed a fence around the outplanted individuals of C. dunbariae at Kalamaula on Molokai (PEPP 2012). The Plant Extinction Prevention Program performed manual weed control at Mokomoko and at Kalamaula (PEPP 2013).

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

    Conservation needs monitoring, continued collection, reintroduction and translocation, enclosure construction, alien plant control and ungulate control.

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

    Ex-situ conservation needs include seed banking, optimization of propagation protocols, genetic study and stochastic events.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Cyanea dunbariae
    Authority Rock
    Family Campanulaceae
    CPC Number 9492
    ITIS 34694
    USDA CYDU3
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Dunbar's Cyanea | Ravine Cyanea | Haha
    Associated Scientific Names Cyanea dunbariae | Cyanea dunbarii | Delissea dunbariae
    Distribution Initially thought to be extinct since its last observation in 1918, the endemic shrub species, ravine cyanea, was identified in 1992 in Mokomoko Gulch on the island of Moloka'i.
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Hawaii S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Cyanea dunbarii, haha, endemic genus. Photo Credit: Gerald D. Carr © 1975-2005

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