Cyanea coriacea

• Hawaiian name: Haha
• Conservation status: Apparently secure
• Distribution: Kaua`i
• Date photographed: 6/29/24
• Identification: : Form– Unbranched or sparingly branched shrubs 2.5-3 m tall Leaves– oblong to oblanceolate, blades 20-38 cm long, 6-12 cm wide, glabrous Flower– calyx lobes dentiform, 0.5-1 mm long, pubescent on margins; corolla white tinged purplish, 20-25 mm long, 2-3 mm wide
• Phylogenetic comments: 2022 update — C. coriacea is the species used to name the Coriacea clade within the purple fruited Cyanea. The clade itself is thought to be of hybrid origin between the Angustifolia clade and the Pyrularia clade. This clade seems to have undergone a rapid speciation, with many species all endemic to the island of Kaua`i.
• My notes: I’ll probably do a post shortly on my trip to Limahuli Gardens but one species that has been planted there is this gorgeous member of the purple-fruited clade. The staff has planted numerous specimens throughout the gardens grounds, making this one of the easier native lobeliads for the general public to see. Even though I know in my mind that the purple-fruited Cyanea spp can be found in drier habitats than the orange-fruited clade, it still throws me off to see them at such low elevation as the garden grounds proper. Making the trip to the gardens is always worth it in my book, the fact that you might be able to spend quality time with species such as this is just a lovely bonus.
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