Alula Rare Lobeliad Kauai Island
by Heidi Fickinger
Title
Alula Rare Lobeliad Kauai Island
Artist
Heidi Fickinger
Medium
Photograph - Photographic Print
Description
ʻŌlulu or Ālula in Hawaiian (Brighamia insignis), is an endangered species of Hawaiian lobelioid in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. It is native to the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. This plant has an otherwordly look to it. Because of the similar appearance of its leaves, it is locally known as the 'cabbage on a stick' plant. Ālula was once an important flower used in ceremonial leis. Ālula flowers have a wonderful sweet fragrance described as honeysuckle- or citrus-like. Due to its endangered status, days of using the flowers for lei making are long-gone.
Only one wild plant is known to still exist on a cliff on the Napali coast. The plant is easily grown in home gardens with the right conditions, however the native Fabulous Green Spinx Moth had evolved to pollinate this plant and is the Ālula's only known natural pollinator. This native moth is now also very endangered and any plants in the wild must be hand pollinated by humans in order to produce seeds.
Featured in the following FAA group galleries:
* Digital Art & Photography for a Simple Imagination
Uploaded
July 28th, 2020
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