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Cyanea heluensis, a newly described native plant, is shown in a recent photo. The only known individual was discovered in wet ohia forest on Mauna Kahalawai in West Maui.
Plant Extinction Prevention Program photo A new native flower was discovered in a remote location in West Maui last week, and it’s the only known plant of its kind to exist so far.
While exploring the steep slopes of Helu above Lahaina, botanists Hank Oppenheimer and Jennifer Higashino found a single large Cyanea heluensis. This new species is related to other native plants known as haha, but has different features, including unique leaves and curved, long, white flowers.
A newly discovered plant, possibly the only one of its kind, has been found deep in a Hawaiian rainforest.
Named Cyanea heluensis, the rare plant was found by botanists in a remote part of West Maui, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a Facebook statement on Christmas Eve. While exploring the steep slopes of Helu above Lahaina, botanist Hank Oppenheimer and colleague Jennifer Higashino found a single large plant in the deep shade of a healthy ohia forest, the statement read.
Named Cyanea heluensis, the rare plant was found by botanists in a remote part of West Maui.(Hawaii DLNR / Facebook)
Botanists discovered a new plant species in Hawaii called Cyanea heluensis
However, it is the only one of its kind found in the area to date
The large plant has massive green leaves and in the center are white flowers
The flowers are long and curved that some say look like uncooked French fries
A new growth of the plant is being grown in a Hawaii nursery
Extremely rare, one-of-a-kind flower found in Maui s rugged mountains. Take a look Mark Price, The Charlotte Observer
Dec. 27 A new species of flowering plant has been found in Hawaii and the details have mystified botanists. Only one individual of the new species, named Cyanea heluensis, is currently known from a remote location in West Maui, Hawaii s Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a Dec. 24 release. While exploring the steep slopes of Helu above Lahaina, botanist Hank Oppenheimer and colleague Jennifer Higashino found a single large plant in the deep shade of a healthy ohia forest.
The plant is similar to another native plant known as the hāhā, but has unique leaves and gently curved, long, white flowers. Photos of the flowers were shared on Facebook and show they resemble something akin to a grouping of uncooked French fries.