Cyanea habenata
Genus: Cyanea sect. Delisseoideae
Status: Endangered.
Etymology: ?? habēna is latin for a strap or a whip. St. John's description describes the leaves as ligulate; could this be the source of the epithet?
Range: Kaua'i, Limahuli valley, 610m.
Growth form: Shrub, 2.4 m tall.
This species, was first published by Harold St. John in Phytologia in 1987/1988 along with an enormous number of synonyms. Lammers conceded only four species from this abundance - Cyanea habenata along with Cy. kahiliensis were described fully by Lammers in 1998 and Cy. eleeleensis and Cy. kolekoleensis in 1992.
Sources:
- St. John, 1987 (as Delissea habenata);
- Lammers, 1998.