These plant species grow in the salt spray and loose sand of beaches and the moist lowland slopes of volcanoes. They flourish in poor soils and under very harsh climatic conditions.
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A variety of Goosefoot (Chenopodium oahuense), known to ancient Hawaiians as "Aheahea", meaning "wilted leaves." Common in coastal drylands, the schrub can grow to more than two meters in height; tends to grow into a more robust tree at higher altitudes. Although the many other species of Chenopodium sp. are weedy invaders in The Islands, C. oahuense is endemic. Its wood was used to make composite fish hooks (particularly shark hooks). The tender young leaves were wrapped in Ti Plant leaves, boiled, and eaten when food was scarce. High up on the berm at Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
Ihi (Portulaca molokiniensis) in flower, Kanaha Beach, near Kahului, north Maui.
A good closeup shot of Ihi (Portulaca molokiniensis) sprouting in the volcanics-rich sand of the berm at Kanaha Beach, Maui. Note the symmetrically opposed leaves. Ihi is probably indigenous (originating on the island). It is also an endangered species that is slowly being reintroduced to the coastal vegetation zone of Maui.
A variety of Mallow (Sida fallax), locally known as "Ilima." Commonly seen as creeping ground cover or an upright schrub, it grows behind open beaches in rocky ground and on recent lava flows. Big Beach, south of Makena, south Maui.
A close-up of the buds, flowers, and foliage of Ilima (Sida fallaz). Big Beach, near Makena, south Maui.
A close-up of the vines, flowers, and foliage of Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana; Hawaiian = Kauna'oa), an annual parasitic plant that wraps itself tightly around other plants and taps into the host's tissues for nutrients with its root tendrils (haustoria). Dodder possesses rudimentary scale-like leaves and numerous small white, bell-shaped flowers. Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
A spreading mat of Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) parasitizes the vines of Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) at Kanaha Beach, north Maui. There are approximately 150 species of dodder (Cuscuta) all of which infect woody and herbaceous plants, including certain economically important crops. Dodder is an obligate parasite: its seeds germinate on the stems of host plants and then invade host stem tissues, from which carbohydrates are exported via an haustorium. Cuscuta has no chlorophyll, and its twining stems are orange, pale yellow, or off-white.
Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) parasitizing a field of Beach Morning Glories (Ipomoea pes-caprae) behind the stabilized sand dunes at Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
The vines of a Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) plant were so tightly wrapped around this Beach Morning Glory leaf that it tore the leaf from its parental vine when I tried to lift just the Dodder's flowers to the camera lens for this close-up shot. Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) parasitizing a field of Beach Morning Glories (Ipomoea pes-caprae) behind the stabilized sand dunes at Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) parasitizing a field of Beach Morning Glories (Ipomoea pes-caprae) behind the stabilized sand dunes at Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) parasitizing a field of Beach Morning Glories (Ipomoea pes-caprae) behind the stabilized sand dunes at Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
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