The mystery plant was discovered in Peru s Manu National Park back in 1973 - but scientists couldn t declare it a new species for so long because they couldn t tell what family it belonged to.
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.