| Cyanea grimesiana | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
|
Critically Imperiled (NatureServe) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Genus: | Cyanea |
| Species: | C. grimesiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyanea grimesiana Gaudich. |
|
Cyanea grimesiana is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family known by the common name splitleaf cyanea. It is native to Oahu and Molokai, where it is known from 12 occurrences.[1] It is a federally listed endangered species. Like other Cyanea it is known as haha in Hawaiian.[2]
This is generally considered a species complex made up of at least three subtaxa. One, var. cylindrocalyx (sometimes treated as a separate species called C. cylindrocalyx), is thought to be extinct.[3] The other two are divided into twelve occurrences on two islands, for a total of fewer than 50 plants.[1] The ssp. grimesiana is found on Oahu and Molokai, while ssp. obatae is limited to the Waianae Mountains of Oahu.[1] The latter subspecies may only be composed of five individual plants today, and all are located on private, unprotected land.[4]
This Hawaiian lobelioid is a shrub which can exceed three meters in height. The stem and herbage are prickly. The tubular flowers are up to 8 centimeters long and may be purple, green, or yellow with reddish stripes. The fruit is an orange berry.[4]