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Cyanea elliptica

(Rock) Lammers (1988)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Campanulaceae Genus: Cyanea

hāhā [haha]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Branched shrubs 1–4 m tall.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades elliptic to oblong, blades 8–18 cm long, 2.8–7 cm wide. Apex obtuse to acute. Base rounded to obtuse. Upper surfaces green, glabrous; lower surfaces pale green, glabrous or pubescent along the midrib. Margins callose–crenulate to callose–serrulate. Petioles 2.5–6.5 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 6–14–flowered, axillary, the rachis condensed or obsolete, peduncles 10–50 mm long, pedicels 5–20 mm long; hypanthium obovoid, 3–4 mm long, 2–3 mm wide. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx 5-lobed, lobes dentiform, 0.5–1 mm long, distinct or rarely connate, pubescent at the margins, apex acute to acuminate, tube adnate to ovary. Corolla zygomorphic, greenish white or white tinged purplish, 15–22 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, glabrous, the tube suberect, the lobes spreading. Stamens 5, alternate with corolla lobes, connate; staminal column glabrous; anthers glabrous, the lower 2 with apical tufts of white hairs, dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits, coherent but separating after anthesis or connate and forming a tube into which pollen is shed; filaments distinct or connate above, attached to the epigynous nectary disk or to base of corolla, rarely adnate to corolla tube. Ovary inferior, 2-celled; ovule placentation axile; stigma 2-lobed, wet or dry, appressed and nonreceptive as the style grows through the anther tube, pushing out the pollen, after which the stigmas spread apart and become receptive.

Fruit: Berries purple; globose; 6–9 mm in diameter. Seeds numerous; small; brown to black; smooth; shiny; 0.2–0.5(–2) mm long; with a straight; short to spatulate dicotyledonous embryo embedded in oily endosperm.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Occurring in mesic valleys and forest.

Elevation Range: 475–915 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

O'ahu Unknown
Molokai Endemic
Lana'i Endemic
Maui Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Syst. Bot. 13: 501 (1988)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:448 (L, M); Lammers 2004:100 (KEY); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:165 (Mo); Hank Oppenheimer pers. obs./Perlman 6442 BISH (L†, 1987)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Cyanea elliptica Main ridge Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 829 Lanai BISH 1929-10-24
2 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 352 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
3 Cyanea elliptica Kamoku, Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 214 Lanai BISH 1927-09-10
4 Cyanea elliptica Koele, mountains near Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 56 Lanai BISH 1913-06-01
5 Cyanea elliptica W Maui, Hanakawai valley, Amalu branch Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 62 Maui BISH 1928-12-21
6 Cyanea elliptica Kipahulu, R ridge Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1660 Maui BISH 1919-11-17
7 Cyanea elliptica Mahana Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 10257 Lanai BISH 1910-07-01
8 Cyanea elliptica East Maui, Keanae Valley Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8799 Maui BISH 1911-04-01
9 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 352 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
10 Cyanea elliptica East Maui, Honomanu gulch, E bank Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2562 Maui BISH 1920-06-21
11 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena Valley Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8053 Lanai BISH 1910-07-23
12 Cyanea elliptica Waiapaa Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 76 Lanai BISH 1913-09-16
13 Cyanea elliptica Kamoku, Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 240 Lanai BISH 1927-11-10
14 Cyanea elliptica Valley between Waiopoa and Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 369 Lanai BISH 1914-12-16
15 Cyanea elliptica Mahana Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 10257 Lanai BISH 1910-07-01
16 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena and Waiapaa, valley between Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 369 Lanai BISH 1914-12-16
17 Cyanea elliptica East Maui, Woods E of Makawao Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 236 Maui BISH 1910-07-01
18 Cyanea elliptica Hookio and Kumoa, ridge between Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 334 Lanai BISH 1928-07-06
19 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena and Waiapaa, valley between Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 369 Lanai BISH 1914-12-16
20 Cyanea elliptica East Maui, Honomanu gulch, E bank Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2562 Maui BISH 1920-06-21
21 Cyanea elliptica Preserved_Specimen Perlman, S. 502 Molokai BISH 1979-10-27
22 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Lanai BISH 1870-07-01
23 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, ridge west of Waihee Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH 1910-08-01
24 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1913-09-26
25 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Lanai BISH 1870-07-01
26 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1915-10-23
27 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Lanai BISH 1870-07-01
28 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, ridge west of Waihee Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH 1910-08-01
29 Cyanea elliptica East Maui, Honomanu Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Maui BISH 1916-05-01
30 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, ridge west of Waihee Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH 1910-08-01
31 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, ridge west of Waihee Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH 1910-08-01
32 Cyanea elliptica unknown Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. BISH
33 Cyanea elliptica Haleakala, upper ditch trail Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. 812 Maui BISH 1922-10-13
34 Cyanea elliptica Hookio and Kumoa, ridge between Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 334 Lanai BISH 1928-07-06
35 Cyanea elliptica East Maui, Hana District, Kipahulu, W ridge of Kaukauai Gulch koa woods Preserved_Specimen 6 m shrub, flowers white, berries dark purplish St.John, H. 17800 Maui BISH 1936-12-28
36 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Wailuku District, Waikapu Valley, back south fork On rocky slope. Vegetation: Pisonia, Antidesma, Pouteria, Metrosideros, Diospyros, Kadua, Nestegis, Xylosma, Charpentiera, Perrottetia, Tectaria, Sadleria, Claoxylon, Pipturus, Boehmeria, Urera, Musa, Macaranga, Psidium, Toona, Trema, Vandenboschia, Rubus, Ageratina, Oplismenus, Erigeron Preserved_Specimen Single 1.25 m tall, unbranched, Oppenheimer, H.L. 80923 Maui BISH 2009-08-30
37 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Wailuku District, Pohakea Gulch In lower gulch slopes. Vegetation: Metrosideros, Dubautia, Cheirodendron, Broussaisia, Melicope, Myrsine, Dicranopteris, Sadleria, Lobelia, Dianella, Scaevola, Labordia, Psychotria, Coprosma, Kadua, Nestegis, Leptecophylla. Preserved_Specimen Occasional shrubs to treelets 1-3m tall. Oppenheimer, H.L. 100703 Maui BISH 2007-10-02
38 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, E side of Honokohau Valley shade, slope; with Wikstroemia oahuensis, Pneumatopteris sandwicensis, Rubus rosifolius, Diplazium sandwichianum, Pipturus albidus, Cyrtandra grayi, Buddleia asiatica, Hedyotis acuminata, Elaphoglossum, Peperomia alternifolia Preserved_Specimen yellow fruit, glabrous calyx lobes Meidell, J.S. 133 Maui BISH 1996-08-29
39 Cyanea elliptica border of Lahaina and Wailuku, Pohakea Gulch, N of Manawainui gulch, S of Hanaula with Nestegis, Myrsine, Wikstroemia, Dodonaea, Lysimachia remyi, L. lydgatei, Melicope, Scaevola, Charpentiera, Styphelia, Bidens, Labordia, Sadleria; N facing aspect Preserved_Specimen 3 m branching shrub; in flower and fruit; corolla pink-white; hypanthium purple-pink; pedicle purple-pink; peduncle green Wood, K.R. 1167 Maui BISH 1991-08-25
40 Cyanea elliptica Pu'u Kukui Mahinahina gulch Native rainforest, in valley Preserved_Specimen Long branch/stem growing sideways. Small flowers with white petals and purple short sepals. Leaves not in rosette Carter, I. 44 Maui BISH 2000-07-24
41 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena stream bottom Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 233 Lanai BISH 1971-06-07
42 Cyanea elliptica Halemanu Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Oahu BISH
43 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Iao Valley, above tributary of Nakalaloa Stream, halfway up slope between drainage bottom and ridge, O, Aspect: N. Midslope in understory of DodVis dominant canopy forest. Mesic Forest: Dodonaea, Psidium, Metrosideros, Antidesma, Dracaena, Notelaea, Blechnum, Christella Preserved_Specimen many branched plant w/ flr and frt. Pezzillo, Z. 564 Maui BISH 2023-09-26
44 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Hanaula, Headwaters of Pohakea Gulch, below ponds in first gulch E of the springs trail, Aspect SW. Gulch bottom and lower slope; Mixed wet/mesic: Metrosideros, Cheirodendron, Coprosma, Perrottetia, Psidium, Hydrangea, Hoiokula, Cyrtandra oxybaphya, Adiantum, Carex, Dryopteris unidentata, Sadleria, Pipturus, Microlepia, Chaetogastra, Myrsine, Clermontia arborescence, Clermontia grandiflora, Rubus rosifolius, Alyxia, Deparia, Menisciopsis, Geniostoma, Athyrium, Ranunculus mauiensis, Amauropelta Preserved_Specimen pubescent petals, sepals, fruit; flowers tinged purple; leaves elliptic, glabrous except for a few hairs on lower midrib; fruit is orange when ripe; many branched shrub 2 m tall; very woody branches; closed canopy, intermediate Z. Pezzillo 1275 Maui BISH 2025-10-09
45 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Wailuku, E side of Iao Needle, between N fork of Kinihapai and Ae Streams W side of gulch Preserved_Specimen 0.8 m branched rosette shrub; calyx greenish white; corolla white, apically suffused with pale lavender; staminal column greenish white; anthers purple Lammers, T.G. 5574 Maui BISH 1984-07-02
46 Cyanea elliptica Munro Trail, over summit of Lanaihale near Awehi road jct with Eucalyptus, Styphelia, Psidium cattleianum; near road with flowers Preserved_Specimen ~5 ft. Perlman, S. 6442 Lanai BISH 1987-09-02
47 Cyanea elliptica Pipiwai Gulch to Lelemako Gulch near ridge top on cliff face Near ridge top on cliff face. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 5-8 ft., 6 seen; fl. pinkish purple. Perlman, S. 502 Molokai BISH 1979-10-27
48 Cyanea elliptica Pipiwai Gulch to Lelemako Gulch near ridge top on cliff face Near ridge top on cliff face. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 5-8 ft., 6 seen; fl. pinkish purple. Perlman, S. 502 Molokai BISH 1979-10-27
49 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Iao Valley, Nakalaloa Stream near stream, rainforest Preserved_Specimen 6' branching shrub Hobdy, R.W. 863 Maui BISH 1980-07-22
50 Cyanea elliptica Pipiwai Gulch to Lelemako Gulch near ridge top on cliff face Near ridge top on cliff face. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 5-8 ft., 6 seen; fl. pinkish purple. Perlman, S. 502 Molokai BISH 1979-10-27
51 Cyanea elliptica Kapohaku, mauka of pump Wet gulch. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. Lanai BISH 1963-08-18
52 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Lahaina District, Laumiupoko Valley, back of vallery Collected along a narrow tributary on the back of the valley, along a perennial, spring-fed stream. Vegetation: Acacia, Metrosideros, Dodonaea, Freycinetia, Pisonia, Antidesma, Microlepia, Coprosma, Pouteria, Wikstroemia, Nestegis, Claoxylon, Clermontia, Psychotria, Kadua, Perrottetia, Smilax, Pteris, Sicyos, Nephrolepis, Cordyline Preserved_Specimen Locally common branched treelets to 4m tall; latex white; flowers white to purple tinged Oppenheimer, H.L. 81231 Maui BISH 2012-08-22
53 Cyanea elliptica Honokohau Valley on cliff, above stream Preserved_Specimen shrub, flowers lavender Bishop, L.E. 1169 Maui BISH 1971-08-27
54 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Pohakea mesic; Styphelia, Dodonaea, Metrosideros, Coprosma foliosa, Myrsine lanaiensis, Nestegis sandwicensis, Pittosporum glabrum, Pleomele auwahiensis, Microlepia strigosa, Dicranopteris linearis, Carex meyenii, C. wahuensis, Morelotia gahniiformis, Trisetum inaequale, Alyxia oliviformis, Smilax melastomifolia Preserved_Specimen 4 m tree, branched 4 times; leaves clustered at tips medium green; peduncle brown or green; hypanthium purple tinge; corolla white, slight pink tinge at base; mature fruit yellow orange Wood, K.R. 11566 Maui BISH 2005-10-11
55 Cyanea elliptica W Maui, Wailuku District, W fork of Pohakea Gulch Summer mesic-dry forest, steep canyon slope. Assoc w. Lobelia, Lysimachia, Dubautia, Styphelia, Sadleria, etc. Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 6 ft ht, flowers purplish w/o whitish to lavender within. Gustafson, R. 2782 Maui BISH 1982-07-11
56 Cyanea elliptica Kamoku, Kaiholena Gulch wet bottom Preserved_Specimen 3 m shrub; corolla white; staminal column white; anthers grayish; calyx dark purple Fosberg, F.R. 12607 Lanai BISH 1935-12-03
57 Cyanea elliptica Wailuku District, Pohakea Gulch, on steeep slope below #H81244 Vegetation: Metrosideros, Pouteria, Nestegis, Freycinetia, Myrsine, Psychotria, Coprosma, Kadua, Melicope, Microlepia, Sadleria, Cibotium, Smilax, Alyxia, Schiedea, Erigeron, Nephrolepis, Blechnum, Rubus Preserved_Specimen Single 3m tall, many branched from base, latex white. Flowers with blue tinge and pubescent, but not large enough to be C. obtusa, nor are the stems and leaves pubescent. Growing 10m upslope of #H81245, which has even more pubescent flowers. Oppenheimer, H.L. 81245 Maui BISH 2012-08-30
58 Cyanea elliptica Waiapaa Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 23 Lanai BISH 1914-12-16
59 Cyanea elliptica Wailuku District, Pohakea Gulch, on steeep slope above #H81245. Vegetation: Metrosideros, Pouteria, Nestegis, Freycinetia, Myrsine, Psychotria, Coprosma, Kadua, Melicope, Microlepia, Sadleria, Cibotium, Smilax, Alyxia, Schiedea, Erigeron, Nephrolepis, Blechnum, Rubus Preserved_Specimen Single 3m tall, many branched from base, latex white. Flowers with blue tinge and densely pubescent, but not large enough to be C. obtusa, nor are the stems and leaves pubescent. Growing 10m downslope of #H81245. Oppenheimer, H.L. 81244 Maui BISH 2012-08-30
60 Cyanea elliptica Iao valley, gulch N of Lao Needle With Pipturus, Pisonia, Pritchardia glabrata, Heyotis formosa, Bidens micrantha, Lysimachia remyi, Dubautia plantaginea ssp. humilis, Pittosporum, Psychotria mauiensis, Cyanea elliptica, Melinis minutiflora, Cordyline fruticosa. Preserved_Specimen Shrubs 6 - 8 ft with fls and frts, fls. white and purple, frt orange. Perlman, S. 19822 Maui BISH 2005-10-13
61 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 347 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
62 Cyanea elliptica Maunalei Gulch, in 2nd unnamed feeder gulch Scattered in gulch bottom & lower slopes of dense, wet native rainforest. Preserved_Specimen Plants 2-4 ft tall. All sterile. Hobdy, R.W. 753 Lanai BISH 1979-12-24
63 Cyanea elliptica Aukuu, N of, near Koele edge of forest Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 379 Lanai BISH 1915-01-19
64 Cyanea elliptica Nuu, S slope Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1867 Maui BISH 1920-03-06
65 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Lahaina District, West Maui Natural Area Reserve-Panaewa Section, Halona Gulch Vegetation: Metrosideros, Cheirodendron, Ilex, Myrsine, Coprosma, Perrottetia, Hydrangea, Clermontia, Pipturus, Urera, Touchardia, Diplazium, cyanea, Cyrtandra, Sadleria, Cibotium, Smilax, Peperomia Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 62114 Maui BISH 2021-06-10
66 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Hanaula, Pohakea Gulch, below ponds in first gulch E of the springs trail Aspect SW. Gulch bottom and lower slope; Mixed wet/mesic: Metrosideros, Cheirodendron, Coprosma, Perrottetia, Psidium, Hydrangea, Hoiokula, Cyrtandra oxybaphya, Adiantum, Carex, Dryopteris unidentata, Sadleria, Pipturus, Microlepia, Chaetogastra, Myrsine, Clermontia arborescence, Clermontia grandiflora, Rubus rosifolius, Alyxia, Deparia, Menisciopsis, Geniostoma, Athyrium, Ranunculus mauiensis, Amauropelta Preserved_Specimen pubescent petals, sepals, fruit; flowers tinged purple; leaves elliptic, glabrous except for a few hairs on lower midrib; fruit is orange when ripe; many branched shrub 2 m tall; very woody branches; closed canopy, intermediate Z. Pezzillo 1274 Maui BISH 2025-10-09
67 Cyanea elliptica Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 24 Lanai BISH 1914-12-25
68 Cyanea elliptica Waiakeakua Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 456 Lanai BISH 1929-10-24
69 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen leaf underside glabrate and sides of midrib pubescent; spindly tree with few erect branches; hypothenum faint pink violet; corolla white; filaium with green tinge; anthers white; fruit greenish violet, milky color when ripe with violet tinge and pale yellow within Degener, O. 28308 Lanai BISH 1963-08-16
70 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Waikapu Valley Preserved_Specimen 6' branching shrub Hobdy, R.W. 700 Maui BISH 1979-10-19
71 Cyanea elliptica Lanai Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 300 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
72 Cyanea elliptica West Maui, Waikapu Canyon Preserved_Specimen leaves with uncinate teeth Hobdy, R.W. 1676 Maui BISH 1982-09-09
73 Cyanea elliptica Mahana Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8105 Lanai BISH 1910-08-30
74 Cyanea elliptica Olowalu Valley, central ridge Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2337 Maui BISH 1920-05-12
75 Cyanea elliptica Kipahulu, R ridge Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1660 Maui BISH 1919-11-17
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