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Endangered rare plant endemic to the Big Island, Hawaii. This larger plant was near the Hakalau Laulima Greenhouse at around 6300ft/1921m. the flowers of the genus Clermontia coevolved with the bills of the Hawaiian Honeycreepers and rely on these rare birds for polination.
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Rare and endangered and endemic to the Big Island, Hawaii. Part of the Hakalau forest was previously altered for ranching and great efforts of reforestation in these sections have taken place since the refuge began in 1985. This plant is an important resource to the rare and native birds of the refuge and relies on these Hawaiian Honeycreepers for pollination.
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Rare and endangered and endemic to the Big Island, Hawaii. Note the long, curved tube of the flower which matches the bills of some of the rare Hawaiian Honeycreepers, an interesting example of co-evolution.
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Rare and endangered and endemic to the Big Island, Hawaii. As the Honeycreeper reaches down the tube for nectar, pollen attaches to the feathers on the head of the Honeycreeper, or is tranferred from the bird's head from a previous flower to pollinate the plant. For an example of Hawaiian Honeycreepers, see the Iiwi or Vestiaria coccinea under Calphotos/animals/bird.
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Rare and endangered and endemic to the Big Island, Hawaii. Part of the Hawaiian Lobeliads, a group of 6 genera and around 125 species which evolved from a single colonization 13+ million years ago.
