Kilauea Mauna Cyanea

Description

Cyanea giffardii was a palm-like tree from its growth form which reached heights of 5 to 10 meters. The stem had a diameter of 15 centimeters at the base. The pale gray to green bark was smooth and with leaf scars covering which was caused by fallen leaves. The petioles were 3.5 to 6.5 centimeters long. The leafy foliage leaves reached a length of 50 to 60 centimeters and a width of 12 to 15 centimeters. The leaf margin was wavy and fine serrated. The leaf top was dark green, smooth and shiny. On the underside, the leaves were light, dull and hairy, especially on the leaf veins. The central rib of the leaf was strong and protruding, just like the lateral veins, which were connected to each other in the arch near the leaf margin. The axillary buds hung long at 10 to 16 centimeters and 1 centimeter thick stems with leaves. The inflorescence contained 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and 0.3 to 0.5 centimeters wide, round high leaves as well as five to ten curved, black-violet single flowers, which were up to 80 millimeters long. The spherical berries had a diameter of 2.5 centimeters and contained hundreds of seeds. Because of their flower form, bird species, such as the Iiwi , the coy tails or the Akialoa could have been possible pollinators ( ornithophilia ).