Cyanea dolichopoda Lammers & Lorence

Genus: Cyanea section Delisseoideae

Etymology: from the Greek dolichos for long and podion for foot, in reference to the longer peduncles (4cm) of this species versus its suspected closest relative Cy. asarifolia which has peduncles of 3cm. Both species have longish petioles of ~11 cm.

Range: Kaua'i; Blue Hole; cliff; 700m.

Growth form: Shrub, 1 tall.

This species was described by Lammers and Lorence in 1993 based on a single, immature specimen. They did this because Hurricane Iniki destroyed all known individuals, the belief that other individuals exist on the steep walls of the Blue Hole and the need to have the species on the T&E list. Lammers & Lorence claim it is closely related to Cy. asarifolia and proceed to list a series of traits that separate the two species, such as leaf length/width ratio and pubescence; none of which has me convinced.


Illustration of Cyanea dolichopoda from Lammers & Lorence, 1993, Novon 3(4):431-436

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