Ohelo ’Ai (Vaccinium reticulatum) is an endemic shrub also known as the Hawaiian blueberry. It’s one of several kinds of native plant adapted to the harsh environment of a volcanic island. This plant was growing on a lava flow off Saddle Road, which is typical here. It does well in disturbed ground above 2,000 feet.
The berries, which are edible, are a food source for nenes, but I really like the delicate flowers and the leaves, which start out as a matching red.
Posted in response to Becky’s October Squares challenge theme of ‘Kind.’ See more responses here.
Graham's Island 
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What a fantastic plant – I like that it seems to be backlit in the photo.
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I think the light was pretty flat actually, but the flowers have a delicate, translucent quality that I like a lot.
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That translucence is lovely.
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Strikingly pretty, Graham 🙂 🙂
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Especially since I mostly see these flowers in the starkest environments.
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A wonderful kind 🙂 but intrigued what or who are nenes?
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Nenes are the endemic Hawaiian goose, a long distant relative of the Canada goose.
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Ahha, thank you. I’ve learnt something today 🙂
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