Category Archives: Nature

Snapshot: Pawale

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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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Gems of Nuuanu

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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!

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

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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A wet day in a dry forest

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

We hiked into West Makaleha gulch to check out the neat dry forest found there. It did turned into a rain soaked adventure. Still, seeing some unique species made the soggy, slippery trek was worth it. In dry hindsight anyway…

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Snapshot: Alani

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Sebastian Marquez

Alani (Melicope spp.) are among the most speciose plants groups here in Hawai’i. I haven’t mentioned them much here at Studia Mirabilium because, frankly, I’m not that good keying them out yet. This one, however, stood out. The more common … Continue reading →

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