Category Archives: Nature

Snapshot: Hulumoa on Ahakea lau nui

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Here’s another species of Hulumoa (Korthalsella complanata). K. complanata is the most common of the Hawaiian mistletoes. It is also found on a wider variety of host plants than the other species. Here it is on Ahakea lau nui (Bobea … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #10: Clermontia faurei

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Clermontia faurei Hawaiian Name: Haha’aiakamanu Conservation Status: Apparently Secure Distribution: Kaua’i, O’ahu (2 records in 1950 & 1956) Date photographed: 9/22/2010 Ease of viewing: Easy *Identification: Form– Terrestrial or epiphytic shrub or tree 2-7 m tall. Leaves– oblong to elliptic; … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gulch-hopping in Mokule’ia

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

We hiked several gulches in the Mokule’ia forest preserve to check out the native plants in the area. This part of the northern Wai’anaes has some nice native forest that are still fairly species rich. Let’s see how things have … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Remnant of the Past or Vision of the Future?

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

A majority of these botany hikes I go on have been with Joel and Kenji. It has been a real privilege because they are both walking encyclopedias of the biota here in Hawai’i. So much of what I have learned … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | 5 Comments

A sampling of plants from Mt. Ka’ala

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

The nice thing about many of the windswept summits on O’ahu is that there are still many fairly intact native plant communities there. But by their very nature, surveying on the summits is difficult work. Nothing frustrates me more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged | 1 Comment

Urticaceae strikes back!

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Hawaiian nettles are another strange product of that engine known as island evolution. Nettles (Urtica spp.) are well known around the world for their stinging hairs which are a major deterrent for herbivores (or the random off-trail hiker). I’m glad … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged | 1 Comment

A romp through a dryland forest

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

I think most people picture lush tropical rain forest when they think of Hawai’i, full of waterfalls and rainbows. But there are other types of plant communities found here. One dominant type being dryland forests found mostly on the leeward … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | Tagged | 4 Comments

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #9: Trematolobelia kauaiensis

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Trematolobelia kauaiensis Hawaiian Name: Koli’i Conservation Status: Apparently Secure Distribution: Kaua’i Date photographed: 9/22/10 Ease of viewing: Easy *Identification: Form– Stems 1.5-3 m long. Leaves– linear-elliptic to elliptic; blades 12-22 cm long by 1-3 cm wide; margins callose-crenulate; petioles 1.3-2.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #8: Clermontia oblongifolia

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Sebastian Marquez

Clermontia oblongifolia Hawaiian Name: Oha wai Conservation Status: Apparently Secure Distribution: O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i (extinct), Maui Date photographed: 1/2/2011 Ease of viewing: Easy *Identification: Form– Terrestrial shrub or tree 2-7 m tall. Leaves– oblong, elliptic, or lanceolate; blades 7-19 cm … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #7: Lobelia monostachya

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez

Lobelia monostachya Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: O’ahu (Southern Ko’olau mountains) Date photographed: 10/27/2010 Ease of viewing: Difficult *Identification: Form– Stems woody, prostrate, 1.5-2.5 dm long Leaves– linear; blades 7-15 cm long by 0.4-0.7 cm wide; margins entire to minute callose-denticulate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany | Tagged , | Leave a comment