Sunday, March 14, 2010

Lokelani Rose - Maui's Official Flower

Lokelani Rose
Rosa damascena
(RO-zuh) (dam-ASK-ee-nuh)
Synonyms: Maui Rose, Pink Cottage Rose
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Little did I know that when I clicked his picture I also clicked a little Hawaiian history. I remember being shocked at finding a Rose amongst the lush and astonishing vegetation. It turns out that this rose is the official flower of Maui. According to this website: http://www.aloha-hawaii.com each of the Islands has an official flower, which differs from the State flower (yellow Hibiscus). The Territorial Legislature recognized Maui’s Rose in 1923 although cultivation of this plant goes back to the 1800’s when it was first introduced to the Islands. This rose had a wonderful fragrance that made taking it's picture even more enjoyable.

Maui is a large Island (2nd largest in the chain) with dimensions of 48 miles (76.8km) long and 26 miles (41.6km) wide, totaling 728 square miles. From experience it can take, most of the day to navigate around the entire island. About 120,000 people call Maui home making it the 3rd most populated of the Hawaiian Islands. One of the most notable attractions on the island is the 10,023-foot Haleakala Crater. That elevation makes it the third largest dormant volcano in the world (depending on how you measure it).

The crater is an amazing sight, a natural wonder with a moonscape that leaves an impression. It is also home of one of the rarest plants in the world the Haleakalā silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum) which is a very handsome silver gray kind of succulent looking plant. I have never seen it in flower but hope to one day. The ride up the to the summit is a long one that passes through several climate zones and offers some beautiful hiking spots along the way. If the weather is right you can literally drive through the clouds to get to the top. Be careful because there can be snow and ice, too.

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This next picture is a bonus for Today’s Flower. I am not sure of the identification; maybe someone could help me out, but think it may be a type of Kalanchoe. I shot it with a shallow depth of field after being inspired by a favorite photographer of mine. She will know who it is. This plant was growing in huge patches of one garden that I visited.


For more flower pictures from around the world check out:
Today’s Flowers .

11 comments:

msdewberry said...

Roses are one of my favorite flowers even though I never have any luck growing them.
Anything that has the courage to grow in the shadow of a volcano must be a hardy plant!!

Unknown said...

I would guess that your ID is correct--except that if it's related the kalanchoe I showed a month or so ago, it's apparently been shuffled around to a different botanical name. Check out "my" kalanchoe (from the Cleveland Botanical Garden) here. If you think it's close, I'll get you a botanical name for "mine" on Thursday and you can do some googling to figure out what "yours" actually is.

Diane Dehler said...

Such a color ! The tiny flower is intriguing... very magical looking.

Grace OLsson said...

I cant comment your shots...Are simply MARVELOUS...
CONGRATS AND HAVEA NICE WEEK
graceolsson.com/nlog

DeniseinVA said...

A fascinating post. I never knew that about this rose and was very interested in the info you gave us. I was in Maui several years ago and remember seeing the silversword near the volcano. I didn't realize its significance until I got home and read up about it. I intend to go back one day, when I can appreciate it even more. Have a great week and thank you for sharing with Today's Flowers.

Quilt Works said...

What a beautiful flower - so many petals!!!


...pink curls

eileeninmd said...

A gorgeous Maui rose!

Kala said...

The way you've photographed the delicate petals on the rose is just lovely.

Arija said...

A glorious old rose that looks lo like a peony. Just beautiful.

A rootdigger said...

love that pink rose color.
arootdiggerssunnyside

Stone Art's Blog said...

wow those kalanchoe's are awesome