Author Archives: Sebastian Marquez

Snapshot: Cyrtandra flowers

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Here are shots of 2 different Ha’iwale (Cyrtandra spp.). Above are the flowers of Cyrtandra cordifolia. Notice how hairy the corollas are. The flowers of this species are not as curved as the flowers of Cyrtandra grandiflora shown below:  

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Snapshot: Banza

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

At our Manoa Cliff restoration site, there is still some diversity with the native arthropods. While my entomology skills are lacking, we were lucky to have guests today more familiar with our Hawaiian insects. Here is one of the native … Continue reading →

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Feral birds at the Honolulu Zoo

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Watching the bird life at the Honolulu Zoo is an interesting thing. Certainly the zoo’s collection of birds is quite impressive. But from an urban birder’s perspective, the zoo is interesting in another way. Simply put, the zoo’s feral bird … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Myrsine inflorescence

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Here are the neat inflorescence of one of the Kolea (Myrsine spp.) native to O’ahu. This individual is on the summit of Konahuanui. The flowers are in fascicles arising from knobby structures on the stem; in large numbers like this … Continue reading →

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Top posts of 2011

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

So wordpress.com gave me some really cool end of year stats for Studia Mirabilium. Quite the pleasant surprise to find in my inbox actually. From those metrics, I thought I would compile some of the top posts from the past … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #19: Clermontia persicifolia

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Clermontia persicifolia Hawaiian Name: Oha wai Conservation Status: Apparently Secure Distribution: O’ahu Date photographed: 12/31/2011 Ease of viewing: Medium *Identification: Form– Terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs 2-6 m tall. Leaves– elliptic to oblanceolate; 7-16 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide; petioles 2-7 … Continue reading →

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The Wonders of Rediscovery

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

I thought Christmas was over. I had just finished a post about the wonderful gift of being able to see rare Achatinella snails in the Ko’olaus. I’ll have to happily revise my Christmas gift. On a whim, Mashuri and I … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #18: Cyanea humboldtiana

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea humboldtiana Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: O’ahu (Ko’olau range) Date photographed: December 10, 2011 *Identification: Form– Stems woody, 1-2m long. Leaves– obovate to broadly elliptic; blades 18-45 cm long, 7-16 cm wide; upper surface glabrous, lower surface pubescent; petioles 3-4 … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Christmas at the Zoo

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Every year, I try to make it to the “Christmas at the Zoo” event here at the Honolulu Zoo. It always makes for interesting shots like this one. As discombobulating as seeing a Chimp drinking heartily from a Gatorade bottle … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Papala kepau

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Time for another comparison. The larger leaf on the left is the common species of Papala kepau (Pisona umbellifera) in the Ko’olaus. The one on the right is the rarer Pisona sandwicensis. As you can see, the leaf bases are much … Continue reading →

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