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Common Plants
seen on the Trail:
- Koa haole: Leucaena leucocephala : these
are the large sticks that seem to be dead trees scattered all over the
trail.
- Pili grass: This is actually a rare grass on the
mountain but is often what guides call the abundant grasses growing
on the crater.
- Kiawe: this is a relative of the common American
mesquite tree. In Hawai'i it is also used as a sort of flavored wood
for barbques and grilling
- Lions ear: When its dry these appear as sticks with
balls on the ends. When its wet they have flower infloresences that
are have red flowers coming out of ball-like infloresences resembling
lion's ears.
- Ilima: Sida fallax : this native species
has medium sized orange flowers that adorn the trail. They flower throughout
the year and should be seen most of the time.
- Carrion plant: Stapelia gigantea : This
plant looks like a cactus but is actually a type of milkweed. The flowers
to this plant attract fly pollinators and smell like rotting meet.
- Hawaiian Poppy: (Pua kala) Argemone glauca: this
plant can sometimes be seen growing along the upper slopes of the crater.
Its a native plant and actually is only present a month or so each year.
Keep an eye out for it though as its a great treat to see.
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Diamond
head was not the origional name for the tuff cone. Its origional
name was given by Hawaiians as Lei ahi. Often interpreted as the ring (lei)
of fire (ahi). |
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