Cyanea mannii (Brigham) Hillebr.

Genus: Cyanea section Delisseoidea

Range: Moloka'i, mesic to wet forests, 1,000-1,080 m.

Growth form: Shrub, 1.5-3 m tall.

This species was considered extinct, for over 100 years, the only known specimens were those collected by the U.S. South Pacific Exploring Expedition (1864-1865) and by Hillebrand (1870). However, in 1984, a new population was discovered and over the following decades additional populations were discovered. Yet, the 2011 five-year review of the species by the USFWS estimates there were less than 200 individuals in an unknown number of populations at that time.

How to identify: Of the extant Cyanea found on Moloka'i, rare C. mannii and its close relatives C. angustifolia and C. procera are in section Delisseoideae - they are shrubby and have narrower leaves than other Cyanea. The ratio of length to width is greater than 4 in these two species and less than 3 in C. munroi, C. solanacea, C. profuga and C. solenocalyx. C. angustifolia can be differentiated from C. mannii by the tiny dentiform calyx lobes of the former versus the triangular lobes 3-5 mm long of the latter. Also C. angustifolia occurs below 760 masl whereas C. mannii occurs above 1000 masl.

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