Studia Mirabilium

Snapshot: Galapagos Tree Opuntia

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

When I went to the Galapagos Islands back in 2006, I had not become interested in botany yet. Still, when I saw this arborescent Prickly Pear (Opuntia echios subsp. gigantea?) I was impressed enough to take a picture. It seems arborescence in prickly pears evolved because of browsing pressure from herbivorous giant tortoises. They were common in the forests outside of Puerto Ayora. I finally got around to retrieving these photos from my older, dead laptop; more pictures from this great trip shortly…

Posted in Botany | Tagged Galapagos Islands, Opuntia, Prickly Pear | Leave a comment

Intro to the plants of Thurston Lava Tube

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

If you’re brand new to the Native Hawaiian plant scene and happen to be on the Big Island, please check out the Thurston Lava Tube. It is an easy way for someone to get an idea of what native forests are like. That idea is absolute wonderment by the way…

Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged Native Hawaiian Plants, Thurston Lava Tube | Leave a comment

Snapshot: Pawale

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Here’s a neat Big Island endemic. Native Rumex are not found throughout the state. Pawale (Rumex skottsbergii) is even more localized. It’s only found in the Kona, Puna, and Kau Districts of the Big Island. Luckily in its habitat, it is a very common plant. Pawale is very easy to see as one of the pioneering species on lava flows. We found many along the Chain of Craters Road in Volcano National Park.

Posted in Botany | Tagged Native Hawaiian Plants, Pawale, Rumex | Leave a comment

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #21: Clermontia parviflora

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Clermontia parviflora

Conservation Status: Apparently Secure
Distribution: Hawaii (Kohala Mts; Windward slopes of Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa)
Date photographed: 4/29/2012
Ease of viewing: Extremely Easy
*Identification: Form- Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub 1-3.5 m tall. Leaves- elliptic or oblanceolate, 6-18 cm long, 1.5-5.5 cm wide; petioles 1.5-5 cm long. Flower- hypanthium turbinate to obovoid, 5-8 mm long, 3-5 mm wide; perianth green, purple, or white externally, white or pale purple within, 15-28 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, tube suberect.
Phylogenetic comments: The genus Clermontia has an interesting natural distribution; it becomes more speciose from older to the younger islands. Kauai only has Clermontia faurei, while C. parviflora is one of at least 11 species found on the Big Island.
My notes: This was the first lobeliad that I encountered on the Big Island. It seems like a much smaller and more scandent plant overall than the Clermontia spp. I’m used to on Oahu. This is by far the most easily accessible native lobeliad that I’ve come across: just drive up to the Thurston lava tube and there is a nice healthy population right at either entrance. No 4 hour hike to a summit needed!
Links: Smithsonian Flora of the Hawaiian Islands, UH Botany, Native Hawaiian Plants- Clermontia

*From Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i

Posted in Botany | Tagged Clermontia, Hawaiian Lobeliads | Leave a comment

Snapshot: Tarictic Hornbill

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

I’ve previously shown some of the mammals that are native members of the Philippine fauna. But probably the most conspicuous elements are the birds. It’s a very large and diverse assemblage.

Take this Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides samarensis) that I grabbed a shot of in Bohol. The hornbills in the Philippines have a nice representation with several different lineages. The Penelopides genus itself is a near endemic with one species (P. exarhatus) found in Suluwesi.

Like many birds in the Philippines, Tarictic Hornbills populations have been deceasing. Hunting for meat and the wildlife trade have taken their toll. And of course, there’s the greater issue of habitat destruction. Hard to live in a forest with no trees…

Posted in Animals | Tagged Philippine Fauna, Tarictic Hornbill | 4 Comments

Snapshot: Metrosideros macropus

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

One of the more divergent taxa of Ohia (Metrosideros spp.) on O’ahu is M. macropus. Here is one of the red flowered form found on Lanihuli. Aside from the bigger leaf and longer petiole, M. macropus is also distinctive in having these strange, persistent bracts and leaf buds that are somewhat sticky. Thanks to Dr. Stacy for pointing this fact out!

Posted in Botany | Tagged Metrosideros, Native Hawaiian Plants, Ohia | 2 Comments