Author Archives: Sebastian Marquez

Intro to the plants of Thurston Lava Tube

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 … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Pawale

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 … Continue reading

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #21: Clermontia parviflora

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 … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Tarictic Hornbill

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 … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Metrosideros macropus

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 … Continue reading

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Studia Mirabilium article template

Insert picture here. Blah Blah Blah Amazing Blah Lobeliad! Blah Blah Blah Blah Awesome! Blah Blah Awesome!! Blah Blah Awesome!!!! Blah Blah Cyanea! Trematolobelia! Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Super Awesome! Blah Blah Gnarly! Blah Blah Depauperate 😦 Blah Blah … Continue reading

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Gems of Nuuanu

Today’s short post will highlight some of the neat plants we came across hiking the many nooks and crannies of Nuuanu Valley. Even though it is bisected by the Pali Hwy, the plant life is still pretty diverse.

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Mahalo Dr. Hume!

The long line at the Kapalama post office on a Saturday morning was absolutely worth it; today I received my copies of Hume and Walters’ Extinct Birds. I’ve been reading it all day and it’s wonderful! It is a great primer on … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Cyanea crispa flowers

Work and weather have kept me away from the mountains lately. Hopefully it will change soon. In the meantime, here are some shots I took a while back of the rare Cyanea crispa in flower for your enjoyment. The infloresence … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Iliahi outliers

Here’s a picture of a strange sandalwood (Santalum freycinetianum) up in the northern Ko’olaus. Typically this species has dull, droopy leaves. As you can see in this individual has glossy leaves that do not looked wilted. The non-native Indian sandalwood … Continue reading

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