What are the orange flowered trees ?

[unknownjulie]

Just wondering what these trees are? They are volunteers in my yard in Hilo and also on my lot in Orchidland. The are probably invasive, because I see them everywhere. I personally like the look of them, but they may need to be pruned or shaped in someway because they can grow tall and gangly. thanks!

[peteadams]

Probably the African Tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata. Definitely a weed and invasive in Hawai'i.

[unknownjulie]

yep, that's what I am referring to. How the heck did they get over here from Africa? They seem to thrive here.

[rainyjim]

"About the problem of invasive species
What is an invasive species? An invasive species is an alien species (plant, animal, or microbe transported by humans to a location outside its native range) whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (U.S. Presidential Executive Order 13112).

Hawaii is in the midst of a growing invasive species crisis affecting the islands' endangered plants and animals, overall environmental and human health, and the viability of its tourism- and agriculture-based economy."

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Above from link below UJ,
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http://www.hawaiiinvasivespecies.org/

Many things thrive here, and can easily out-compete the native species. It's imperative that more education is put forth to the general populace on the consequences of 'tinkering' with such a unique and delicate ecology.

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RE: the african tulip? Have you seen the 'seed pods' and seeds? When the pods split open they resemble a miniature canoe and are filled with ridiculous amounts of individual african tulip seed all carefully packaged in what i've dubbed a 'prophylactic wrapper' like outer coating. These outer coatings act almost like wings on a glider and enable the seeds to be blown aloft and travel great distances in the wind. These trees are some of the worst on the island!! I sigh when I hear people oohing and aahing over them - unsure if 'wolf in sheeps clothing' applies here.

Aloha mai kakou

[csgray]

Hawaii has both the most endangered species AND non native invasive plants and animals on the planet. There is a relationship. Part of the problem is people want to bring their favorite showy plant to their new home, and then it runs wild here and crowds out the native or endemic species. The albizia and African tulip were both deliberately introduced by people who liked how they looked. In hindsight both were a really bad idea.

The pre-Polynesian arrival species arrived at about the rate of one new species every 10,000 years, then they evolved in isolation into amazing unique species that can only survive in very specific environmental conditions, so they are easily crowded out. The "canoe plants" that were brought by the Polynesians were the food and fiber plants they used in daily life, we will never know if those crowded out native plants and animals, but I would guess not because the Polynesians only intensively worked a limited amount of the land and were fairly careful about what they brought. For example, they only brought one gender, I can't remember if it was the male or female, of the plant used to make kapa cloth. If you have both it spreads with seeds and takes over like crazy, if you only have one gender it is propagated through cuttings and doesn't run rampant. Most of the plants we all think of as "Hawaiian" are introduced species: coconut palms, most of the showy hibiscus, plumeria, gingers and heliconias, Cook island pines, guava, ironwood. Ohia, koa and sandalwood were not introduced.

Sorry for the mini lesson, but I think the story of the arrival and evolution of Hawaii's native species is pretty cool.

Carol

[fishenjim]

"Sorry for the mini lesson" please Some of my favorite posts here are the ones about native and invasive species.You guys seem so knowledgeable about your botany it is a very relevant topic.and immensely more entertaining than sniping over sex ed.

[PunaCat]

I'm with Fishenjim, Carol - that was an awesome post!!!!

[pahoated]

The reality is everything was introduced. In the beginning, this part of the ocean was the original Waterworld, there was no land mass.

As the land mass emerged, vegetation started, mostly due to wind blown pollen finding its way to a lava field crevice. Also, the sea carries all kinds of things for vast distances.

There is a native palm, the loulo. It isn't threatened but only located in a few places among all the other introduced palms. The various ferns are also native.

The main issue isn't whether it was introduced or not, but whether it is invasive or not, that is, showing measurable damage to the indigenous ecosystem. Macadamia nut trees were introduced but seem to not have many damaging invasive effects to the indigenous ecosystem. Strawberry guava is introduced and invasive, as an example. Tangerines, lemons, limes, introduced but not seen as invasive. Horticulture weeds introduced through importation of potted plants, introduced inadvertently and invasive. The invasive isn't just out of control growth, it is how much it crowds out what should be the indigenous ecosystem.

"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"