Category Archives: Botany

Snapshot: Psychotria longissima

So here are some seedlings from a plant with uncertain affiliations. Currently it is part of Psychotria kaduana. But it was originally described as Psychotria longissima and has a much longer, droopy inflorescence. There is much work to be done … Continue reading

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Mt. Ka’ala: A walk to remember

“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Sebastian? You’re comparing a hike into some of the most intact native forest on O’ahu to a sappy Nicholas Sparks book?! There are relictual native species in the area that the general public rarely gets to see … Continue reading

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #35: Trematolobelia macrostachys

Trematolobelia macrostachys Conservation Status: Apparently secure Distribution: O’ahu (Ko’olau), Moloka’i, Maui Date photographed: 11/15/2012 Ease of viewing: Difficult *Identification: Form– Treelets 1-4 m tall Leaves– linear to oblanceolate, blades 15-36 cm long, 0.8-3.1 cm wide. Flower– calyx lobes triangular, 3-17 mm long, 1-3 mm wide; … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Lazarus, the Clermontia

Clermontia kakeana is still a fairly common lobeliad. Except on O’ahu; it is  not easy to see  on pretty much any trail here. Tantalus has a fairly healthy population of it. I’d like to think we at the Manoa Cliff … Continue reading

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Spot the different Rollandia species of Konahuanui!

So, this new species Cyanea konahuanuiensis (Haha mili’ohu), how does it look different from other Cyanea spp? There are actually a few species of Cyanea spp. that live in the same general area as haha mili’ohu. Let’s take a look. The … Continue reading

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The Wonder of Discovery: # 34 Cyanea konahuanuiensis

So I changed up the format for my next post in the lobelia series. For how can it be normal; Cyanea konahuanuiensis is a species brand new to science that I helped describe! I’m not going to rehash everything, that … Continue reading

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #33: Cyanea calycina

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

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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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #31: Cyanea asarifolia

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

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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