Category Archives: Nature

Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #37: Trematolobelia kaalae

Trematolobelia kaalae *From Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i

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Snapshot: Ginko trees and connections in deep time

Arbor day in Hawai’i is coming up again and I am reminded of my trip to Korea about 8 years ago. We were staying at the Jeongju Hanok Village when we came across this old Ginko tree with a sign. … Continue reading

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Getting to know your Hawaiian Lobeliads #36: Cyanea membrenacea

Cyanea membrenacea *From Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i

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Let’s talk about: Olomea

I’m going to try something a bit different. I got the inspiration for doing this from the 1 comment in the ‘aka’aka’awa post. Internet searches can and are wonderful ways to find out about native Hawaiian plants and animals. But … Continue reading

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The face that we almost forgot

If you are of a particular age cohort, you will remember the sensation that was M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense. Lauded, then cliched, for its plot twist, the movie was also known for Haley Joel Osment’s famous utterance: “I … Continue reading

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Snapshot: Toothbrush Fern

This dainty little endemic fern is ‘oali’i makali’i (Schizaea robusta). I came across it near the summit of Konahuanui. Interestingly, the frond is mostly made up of just the stipe; the blades are only found the very distal portion. This … Continue reading

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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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