Common Laua’e Fern Microsorum scolopendria Common names can be confusing, and often the same common name is used for different plants or plant species. This is true for the common laua‘e fern in Hawaii. Microsorum scolopendria, the Australian species of “laua‘e“ has been in Hawaii for so long that many people think it’s the endemic Hawaiian Laua’e Fern, Microsorum spectrum. Somewhat confusingly, these two attractive fern species in Hawai‘i...
Coelogyne rochussenii This species is a warm-growing, pendulous flowering orchid from low tropical areas of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Commonly known as ‘necklace orchids’, because of their long, pendant, multi-flowered inflorescence are mostly epiphytes or lithophytes and occasionally terrestrials. They have often a sweet scent, attracting different kinds...
Tecomanthe venusta Commonly referred to as New Guinea Creeper Vine this is a tropical flowering vine produces unusual pink trumpet-like flowers that appear on the old woody stems. Also known as Forest Bell Creeper, this flower is not related to the poisonous trumpet trees. This is a...
Dendrobium spectabile A naturally occurring species of orchid from Australia, Papua, and New Guinea that was discovered in 1849. Not only are the pseudo-bulbs and leaves imposing, but their curly-petaled flowers are some of the most unusual in the world. The name Denrobium is derived from the ancient Greek words dendron, meaning “tree” and bios meaning “life.” Dendrobium hybrids have...
Anthurium cupulispathum A species of anthurium with giant foliage, each leaf growing to be up to 5’ in size! The flower is also larger than other anthurium species The large leaves make for a great photo opportunity reminiscent of the famous photo of Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. The leaves are found along...
Alpinia malacenssis Commonly referred to as “Giant White Shell” Alpinia is a genus of flowering plants in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, named for Prospero Alpini, a 17th-century Italian botanist who specialized in exotic plants. This rare species has stunning snow white flowers with large, soft velvety leaves and that famous gingerly scent. Scientific studies have shown that extracts from its...