Exploring abstraction and the subtle layering of whites, this elegant piece by Christian Enns is a major departure from his beautiful plein air landscapes, though the landscape form does reveal itself in the piece. Christian is an award-winning surfer who captures the energy of Hawaii in all his works. They grace private collections around the globe.
Cyanea macrostegia is known formerly from Lāna`i but now found only on Maui. Dark velvet purple-black curved flowers emerge from this rain forest tree. The nectar of these unusual flowers and the orange berries are food for Hawaiian forest birds. These palm-like trees with paddle-shaped leaves are evocative of a pre-historic jungle. The species is now only found in a healthy and diverse rain-forest. Lobelioids are one of the most spectacular examples of island evolution in flowering plants with curved flowers matching the bill of their bird pollinators. - Melissa Chimera
There are perhaps as many as 300 species worldwide in the genus Hibiscus. However, ma`o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) is found only in Hawai`i and federally listed as an endangered species. According to botanist David Lorence, “Hibsicus brackenridgei has been adopted as the official state flower of Hawai`i. Showy blooms of brilliant chrome yellow first catch the eye. [The species has] five delicately creped petals and a column of stamens tipped by five stigmas." The plant was once found on all the main islands except Ni`ihau and Kaho`olawe, but is threatened by alien animals, fire and weeds. - Melissa Chimera
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