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Apparently the fungus is causing problems for only Ohi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha), not other members of the Metrosideros genus. We saw Metrosideros collina all over the Marquesas, where it is endemic, and it - not surprisingly - looks very similar to Ohi'a, but with the leaves having more of a pointed tip than a rounded edge. The flower is also a little more of an orange hue than a deep red. But I think it would be worthwhile in the long term to plant a number of these, as well as a number of Metrosideros excelsa (New Zealand Christmas tree), in the hopes that the forest would look very similar to how it does now, plus we might benefit from inter-generic hybrids that would hopefully have some increased tolerance to the fungus.
I can't find a source for any of the other Metrosideros, unfortunately. So on my yard I've planted a bunch of Tetraplasandra, Koa, and other trees. Probably 50-70% of my Ohi'a are still doing okay, however.
Leilani Estates, 2011 to Present
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Hopefully, a strain of local ohia resistant to the fungus will either arise or be identified if already present. Have those of you in affected areas noticed any robust surviving ohias? If so, they should be reported to the appropriate agency and examined. This sort of selective resistance has happened in other plant epidemics, although taking advantage of it may be a long shot here, especially if we are counting on the state to manage any effort in that direction.
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fwiw, on Metrosideros polymorpha...... many of you have more than one type of Ohia in your yards, I have 4 different types on my 3 acres found naturally, and have introduced a couple of the higher elevation types too. Its name is 'polymorpha' now but the species was subdivided for a long time with many subspecies, now synonyms, wiki lists 27 different for the Hawaiian Ohia, and I dont have access to my Wagner books right now but they prob list more different types.... ps. polymorpha meaning 'many forms'
look around and youll see Ohia with small curved leaves w/ white tomentose on the bottom (hairs) with orange brown new growth, larger leaves with shinny light green tops and shinny green bottoms with red new growth, etc. there are many types.. they have been in Hawaii in some form or another for over 40 million years and will be here for much longer...
close relatives are guava, java plum, mountain apple, rose apple, etc. ..
fwiw, the "Rust' that wiped out most all of the related Rose Apple trees about 7-9 years ago was on Ohia too, but has now slowing disappeared from Ohia...
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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ps if youre going to ask how can a plant be in Hawaii for 40 million years?? when Kauai is only 4.5 million years old...
its because the plants 'island hopped' south on island now sunk or almost sunk today.. Kure is 32 million years old and the oldest of the islands still above sea level. the other islands north of Kure have sunk because when the continental tectonic plates move too far north into colder water, the rate that coral grows slows down or stops and thus the island cant stay above sea level anymore... on atolls in warmer oceans etc coral grows at same rate as the former 'tall volcanic island' sinks..
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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This sounds like you're promoting mandatory plantings.
quote:
Originally posted by pbmaise
inform property owners
bill property owners?
><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>
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This is what happens when you associate "primitive" to Hawaii. Hawaii is not primitive at all, it is almost brand new. Hawaii island is only 700,000 years old, and this southeast quandrant we live in is Zero Days old.
It is another thing to appreciate about this place, reviewing the realities, rather than the misinformation mindset. This island we are on is the *NEWEST* habitable land mass on this planet. The old hick wit was "real estate, they ain't makin' no more of it" is proven wrong with this island. People get mixed up associating Hawaii with being primitive because it is similar to the conditions when the Earth when it was new, just as Pangaea emerged from the ocean that covered the whole planet. Pangaea was 3 billion years ago, Kauai is 4.5 million years old and Hawaii island is 700.000 years old.
The ohia is from many millions of years ago, probably what trees looked like 40 million years ago. They probably can be traced back to the Indonesia area but died out long ago. Some version of it crossed the Pacific and found its way to Hawaii. Legend says Pele brought it here. While it went extinct on the mainland, it survived and hasn't changed much from millions of years ago. It really is a beautifully primitive tree when you really look at it, and seeing the red and yellow next to each other is just more to appreciate about this isle.
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*
