Cooler temperatures and consistently moderate rainfall support a diverse community of invasive and native plant species growing on the always-green cloud-covered lower slopes of Haleakala volcano's southwest-facing flank.
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Immature fruit of the Guava (Psidium guajava). Upcountry road just outside Lana'i City, island of Lana'i.
Maturing fruit weighs heavy on the limbs of a Guava tree (Psidium guajava). Upcountry, just outside Lana'i City, island of Lana'i.
Pink Oleander (Nerium oleander) blossoms from a large (more than 15 feet high) old tree growing amongst the stabilized sand dunes on the site of the Club Lana'i, southeastern shore of Lana'i. This tree's blossoms were not as fragrant as I expected, perhaps because of the tree's advanced age or that it was the last of the blossoms from late Spring.
Pink Oleander (Nerium oleander) blossoms from a large (more than 15 feet high) old tree growing amongst the stabilized sand dunes on the site of the Club Lana'i, southeastern shore of Lana'i. This tree's blossoms were not as fragrant as I expected, perhaps because of the tree's advanced age or that it was the last of the blossoms from late Spring.
The thousands of runners of the Hawaiian Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) quickly propagate the main plant mass by wrapping themselves around anything, including themselves! (Identified by others working at this locality as Cassytha filiformis -- Kaunaoa pehu)
Immature buds of the Hawaiian Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana). The buds will soon open as very small white flowers. Central Lana'i. (Identified by others working at this locality as Cassytha filiformis -- Kaunaoa pehu)
Hawaiian Dodder (Cuscuta sandwichiana) grows as a parasite on other plants. Immature plants have roots, but as the spaghetti-like mass grows, the roots disintegrate and the mature plant is not connected to the soil. It is leafless and lacks chlorophyll and so does not photosynthesize; this accounts for its odd yellowish-orange appearance. Blossoms are very small, as are the fruiting bodies. This oddball native is found growing all over this and the neighbor islands, so much so that it is the official plant of Lana'i. It ranges from sea level to almost 1,000 feet. This is part of a mass of Cuscata sp. that covered at least 2 hectares of disturbed ground along the roadside at the highest point on Keomoku Road, central Lana'i. (Identified by others working at this locality as Cassytha filiformis -- Kaunaoa pehu)
A healthy stand of Cook Pine trees (Araucaria heterophylla) growing like an over-sized fence line surrounding the community cemetery of Lana'i City, island of Lana'i. This tree is native to New Caledonia and was introduced throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Large numbers of these trees were planted by George Munro in 1915 as part of a reforestation program.
A lonely stand of Cook Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) on Keomoku Road, central Lana'i. This tree is native to New Caledonia and was introduced throughout the Hawaiian Islands. In 1915, George Munro planted Cook Pine on Lana'i as part of a reforestation program.
Pink Oleander (Nerium oleander) blossoms from a large (more than 15 feet high) old tree growing amongst the stabilized sand dunes on the site of the Club Lana'i, southeastern shore of Lana'i. This tree's blossoms were not as fragrant as I expected, perhaps because of the tree's advanced age or that it was the last of the blossoms from late Spring.
Pink Oleander (Nerium oleander) blossoms from a large (more than 15 feet high) old tree growing amongst the stabilized sand dunes on the site of the Club Lana'i, southeastern shore of Lana'i. This tree's blossoms were not as fragrant as I expected, perhaps because of the tree's advanced age or that it was the last of the blossoms from late Spring.
Pink Oleander (Nerium oleander) blossoms from a large (more than 15 feet high) old tree growing amongst the stabilized sand dunes on the site of the Club Lana'i, southeastern shore of Lana'i. This tree's blossoms were not as fragrant as I expected, perhaps because of the tree's advanced age or that it was the last of the blossoms from late Spring.
gallery pages:  <<  <  12  13  14  15  16  17  
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