Cyanea arborea
Extinct Hawaiian tree on Maui in moist forests along Haleakalā, 4–8 m tall with a palmately arranged crown, cream-lilac flowers 5 cm long in hanging inflorescences, likely pollinated by nectar-feeding birds, berries 1–1.2 cm in diameter, due to forest-to-grassland conversion and grazing.
Common Names
Palm Tree Cyanea, Tree Cyanea, Palm-Tree Cyanea
Summary
Endemic to Maui on the western slopes of Haleakalā, the species grows 4–8 m tall in wet tropical forests at elevations of 1,520–1,650 m, with a palm-like crown, leaves 65–90 cm long and 7–12.5 cm wide with weakly serrated margins and smooth, papery undersides; a pendant inflorescence 15–30 cm long bears 15–25 creme-violet flowers about 5 cm long, and flowering occurs in spring; pollination is thought to involve nectar-feeding birds, and fruits are spherical berries 10–12 mm in diameter.
Because the species is extinct, cultivation requirements no longer apply. Historical declines followed forest conversion to grazing lands and grazing by pigs, deer, and cattle that destroyed native vegetation and were replaced by introduced grasses and Australian eucalyptus; the last confirmed observation occurred around 1928, and there is no historical record of uses.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
13-26 feet
Bloom Color
Cream-violet
Bloom Time
Spring
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Hillebr.
- Publication
- Fl. Hawaiian Isl. : 261 (1888)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Cyanea