Author Archives: Sebastian Marquez

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #15: Brighamia insignis

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Brighamia insignis Hawaiian Name: Alula Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: Kaua’i (Napali Coast) Date photographed: 9/30/2011 Ease of viewing: Cultivated *Identification: Form– Unbranched stem succulents 1-5 m tall; stems stout, fleshy, thickened toward base. Leaves– Leaves obovate, arranged in a dense … Continue reading →

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Book Review- The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

If there was a silver lining to the demise of the Border’s bookstores, it’s the new books that I was introduced to during their liquidation sales. One of those books was The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood, by … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #14: Cyanea superba

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea superba   Hawaiian Name: Haha Distribution: O’ahu (Northern Wai’anae Mountains) Date photographed: 2/5/2011 Ease of viewing: Moderate *Identification: Form– Palm-like trees 4-6 m tall. Leaves– oblanceolate, blades 50-100 cm long, 10-20 cm wide; margins callose-crenulate; petioles 5-8 cm long. Flower– hypanthium obconical, 10-16 … Continue reading →

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An ode to Football with musings from Jaws

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

It’s that time of year again, when football is welcomed from it’s long respite. Sunday plans are altered, office bets are made and we take our rightful place on couches across America to watch 22 guys battle and battle. I … Continue reading →

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Two roads diverged in a wood (Halawa Ridge)

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

… I most certainly took the one less traveled. All this blogging about hiking and it took till now to get to Robert Frost’s famous poem? After today’s long hike, it seemed particularly apropos.

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Snapshot: Philippine Tarsier

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

There’s nothing like quirky endemic fauna. Here is a picture I took in Bohol of Philippine Tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta). If you love phylogeny (and who doesn’t?), tarsiers have been found to be more closely related to monkeys and great apes … Continue reading →

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Roadside plants of Mauna Kea

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

I may enjoy hiking, but taking on Mauna Kea is a different beast altogether. Perhaps it’s a challenge for hikers more extreme than I. Besides there is a perfectly good road that takes you up to the native alpine denizens, … Continue reading →

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Random Dogbane photos

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

I have pictures of the native dogbanes (Apocynaceae) that I’d like to share. Most people are familiar with at least one member of the family, albeit non-native: The different Plumerias. Fortunately, they don’t seem to escape from cultivation easily. The … Continue reading →

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Small Victories

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

I haven’t really mentioned anything about the Manoa Cliff restoration efforts lately. I would certainly be remiss if I didn’t let my dear readers know about some of the progress being made. Tackling large problems and solving them can be … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Ohe Naupaka

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Maybe I’m just fascinated by bird-pollinated plants. Here is another plant that I’ve been interested in seeing up close. Ohe Naupaka (Scaevola glabra) is quite different from the other naupakas native to Hawai’i. Instead of the characteristic half-flower of the … Continue reading →

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