Category Archives: Nature

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #6: Cyanea angustifolia

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea angustifolia Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Apparently Secure Distribution: O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Maui Date photographed: 8/9/2010 Ease of viewing: Easy *Identification: Form– Branched shrub 1.5-5 m tall. Leaves-lanceolate, narrowly elliptic, or narrowly oblong; blades 9-32 cm long by 1.5-5.5 … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: The only Hawaiian carnivorous plant

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez
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Layman’s guide to the plants along the Pihea Trail

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez

I’m calling it a layman’s guide not because of my readers, rather because I’m the humble layman. My very first post was about the birds easily spotted along the trail, it seems appropriate to finally talk about some of the … Continue reading →

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Iliau Loop Trail

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez

Waimea Canyon is a very famous natural area on the island of Kaua’i. There are a couple lookouts that many people take their scenic shots at, but I like the view from the Iliau Loop Trail. As seen above, you … Continue reading →

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #5: Cyanea crispa

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez

Cyanea crispa Hawaiian Name: Haha Conservation Status: Endangered Distribution: O’ahu (Ko’olau mountains) Date photographed: 11/2/2010 Ease of viewing: Difficult *Identification: Form– Stems fleshy, 0.3-1.3 m long Leaves– broadly obovate; blades 30-75 cm long by 9-16 cm wide; margins undulate, callose-crenulate … Continue reading →

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O’ahu tree snails in the Wai’anaes

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Sebastian Marquez

Here are some pictures I took of Achatinella mustelina, a rare endemic snail found only in the Wai’anae range.

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