Author Archives: Sebastian Marquez

Snapshot: Patagonian Mara

Posted on February 4, 2015

We tend to look at islands like Hawai’i or New Zealand or Madagascar for extreme examples of adaptive radiation. But of course, they are not the only places to see this. Take, for example, this picture I took at the … Continue reading →

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A whole new world, a brave new world

Posted on February 2, 2015

So, I’ve been blogging here at Studia Mirabilium for almost a 1/4 of a score now. And hiking almost every weekend since I started. We’re talking a couple hundred of hikes now. But in that time, there were still major … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #33: Cyanea calycina

Posted on January 27, 2015

Cyanea calycina Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: O’ahu Date photographed: 9/13/2014 Ease of viewing: Moderately difficult *Identification: Form– Stems woody, 1-3 m long. Leaves– elliptic to oblanceolate, blades 15-60 cm long, 5.5-14 cm wide, petiole 1-9 cm long. Flower– calyx lobes oblong to ovate, 4-10 … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #32: Cyanea hardyi

Posted on January 15, 2015

Cyanea hardyi -cultivated Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Apparently secure Distribution: Kaua’i Date photographed: 5/22/2013 Ease of viewing: Cultivation -Limahuli Gardens *Identification: Form– Branched shrub or tree, 1-7 m tall Leaves– elliptic to oblanceolate, blades 18-28 cm long, 2.5-5 cm wide, base attenuate into a … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Another pinoy bird

Posted on December 31, 2014

One of several different species of old world orioles in the Philippines, Black-naped Orioles (Oriolus chinensis) is also native in other parts of Southeast Asia and into China and parts of India. I didn’t see it out in the wild … Continue reading →

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1984… and 1884

Posted on December 30, 2014

The Bishop Museum just wrapped up their Wonders of Nature exhibit. As great as it was to see the Museum’s collections from throughout the Pacific, I was there for a very specific reason. It was my first real chance to … Continue reading →

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Relatives staying for the Holidays

Posted on October 27, 2014

As the holidays fast approach, we must honor those grand traditions of putting up decorations, sending out photos of your “antler and sweater” festooned family, and eating all the delicious holiday meals. Most importantly, we must revel in the sudden … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #31: Cyanea asarifolia

Posted on August 30, 2014

Cyanea asarifolia Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: Kaua’i (Anahola stream) Date photographed: 8/29/2014 Ease of viewing: Cultivated *Identification: Form– Shrub, 0.3-1 m tall Leaves– cordiform, blades 8.5-10.5 cm long, 7-8 cm wide, base cordate. Flower– calyx lobes dentiform, 0.51 mm long; corolla white with … Continue reading →

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The myth. The legend. Wailupe

Posted on July 13, 2014

How can I properly frame this? On O’ahu, few places have intrigued me as much as Wailupe. A lot of it has to do with its historical association with the scientific inquiry of Hawaiian biota. Some of it is because … Continue reading →

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Kuli’ou’ou plants

Posted on July 5, 2014

We went on a hike to check out the plant life of Kuli’ou’ou Valley. It was impressive to see the diversity still left in such a commonly hiked area.

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