Cyrtandra cyaneoides

Hawaii, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyrtandra_cyaneoides_(5490666621).jpg">

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Lamiales

Familia: Gesneriaceae
Subfamilia: Didymocarpoideae
Tribus: Trichosporeae
Subtribus: Didymocarpinae
Genus: Cyrtandra
Species: Cyrtandra cyaneoides
Name

Cyrtandra cyaneoides Rock
Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental:Pacific
Regional: Northern Central Pacific
Hawaiian Islands (Kauai: Wai'alae Valley).

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Rock, J.F.C., 1913. Bulletin, College of Hawaii publications 2:39.

Additional references

Govaerts, R. 1999. World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b). 1532 pp.. MIM, Deurne. ISBN 90-5720-098-8 (issue 1), ISBN 90-5720-099-6 (issue 2b). Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Cyrtandra cyaneoides in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 26. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Cyrtandra cyaneoides. Published online. Accessed: Aug 26 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Cyrtandra cyaneoides. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 26.
Hassler, M. 2021. Cyrtandra cyaneoides. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Aug 26. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2021. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Cyrtandra cyaneoides. Accessed: 26 Aug 2021.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Cyrtandra cyaneoides in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

Vernacular names
English: mapele

Cyrtandra cyaneoides is a rare species of flowering plant in the African violet family known by the common name māpele. It is endemic to Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi, where it is known from eleven populations containing a total of under 800 individual plants. Several of these were discovered between 2003 and 2008.[1] It is a shrub that grows 1 to 6 meters tall, bears white flowers, and egg-shaped berries.[2] It was federally listed as an endangered species in 1996.[3]

The plant grows in wet forest habitat, sometimes on cliffs or next to streams. It grows alongside other native plants such as ʻākōlea (Boehmeria grandis), hōʻiʻo (Diplazium sandwichianum), ʻieʻie (Freycinetia arborea), ʻapeʻape (Gunnera kauaiensis), and several other Cyrtandra species. The understory also contains many ferns and bryophytes such as mosses and liverworts. Many of the trees host epiphytes. The habitat is also invaded by non-native plants such as Koster's curse (Clidemia hirta), kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum), and Australian tree fern (Sphaeropteris cooperi); these weeds compete with native flora for resources.[1]

The habitat is also degraded by rats, which eat the seeds of māpele.[1]
References

USFWS. Cyrtandra cyaneoides Five-year Review. August 2010.
"ECOS: Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
"NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.