Wahiawa Botanical Garden
clarkth (Premium member) > albums > Makana Aloha
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7 comments
It's very beautiful!
said evita17m
I have seen the Strongylodon in my 'Flowers of the World' book. This is the first time I am seeing the picture of an actual one. It is, indeed, very beautiful. They also come in deep emerald green colour.
said suresh_krishna
OH!! What a fun ... thing!! LOL ... is it a blossom??
said gloridays
What a very unusual (but beautiful) vine. (Thanks Sharon for the information). ~Deb & Rick~
said AKaurora
That is a very unusual vine. Love the color! Sharon, thanks for the interesting info about it and I checked out the lei in your photo. Very pretty!
said rachel7119
It is a Jade!!! [ Hawaiians call it nuku 'i'iwi ]I am so delighted to see it! They are wonderfully exotic and the colour is amazing!! I just conducted an extensive search to provide you with the botanical name and it took forever to find any information on them!!! Here is a wonderful link to read more on this beautiful climbing vine. (Strongylodon macrobotrys) ~ http://www.vacation-maui.com/newsletters/nov2007nl.php ~ The first time I saw one was in 2005 at the Tropical Gardens of Maui near Kuka'emoku Ka'Ikena O'Iao Valley. When I looked up and saw the amazing shape and aquamarine colour overhead I asked my friend 'Is it real?' for they are so unusual. The Jade flower lei is highly prized and used often as an award for the winning entry or team such as with canoe competitions, etc. I have an image of a beautiful Jade lei worn by one of members of one of the winning teams in the Kihei Canoe Club 2007 Paddlers Open on Ka Lae Pohaku Beach in my Extremely Maui collection as well as the collection devoted to the race, of which I am still surprised almost no one has visited. I especially enjoy this part ... quote "The vine was cultivated by the Hawaiians for lei exclusively worn by the Ali'i. The plant was said to be sacred to the hula goddess Laka and, perhaps, to her sister Kapo. According to folklorist Martha Beckwith, the flower was sacred to the gods and the lei made from them could only be worn by those loved by the gods (royalty). She mentions one belief that if anyone not loved by the gods dared to wear a nuku 'i'iwi lei, he or she was likely to be haunted by a headless woman carrying her head under one arm! " You may view one here, it is a very pretty lei ~ http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2830790480052197924qAyhvP
said ourjrny
How lovely. I wonder what it is?
said anonneymouse1
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