Rose jatropha (Jatropha integerrima) is an ornamental shrub from Cuba with showy red flowers. Bees were all over this plant.
Category Archives: Plants
Cattleya orchid
I think this is a cattleya orchid, growing on the trunk of a lychee tree. This particular tree has two or three other epiphytes, plants that grow on other plants, on its trunk.
Green anole on red leaves
This green anole does not blend in well on these red leaves, but that’s the point. He’s vigorously declaring this territory to be his.
For more information about green anoles, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_anole.
Donkey tree?
I’ve heard of monkey trees, but is this a donkey tree? Donkey in a tree? Actually, it’s a donkey under a tree, staying out of the sun.
Mangoes
In February this mango tree was in full bloom (top). Those blooms have become the bevy of fruit below. When the wind blows the thud of falling mangoes is a constant sound. I tend to duck my head into my shoulders walking under the tree.
It’s a twice a day routine to pick up the fallen fruit, or the wild pigs will make short work of them.
Fiery skipper butterfly
A fiery skipper butterfly, Hylephila phyleus, dips its proboscis into a passion flower.
Green bottle fly
A green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata, checks out a flower on a tree heliotrope (Heliotropium foertherianum).
Ironwood
The Common Ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia) is something of an invasive weed. It has, in my book, two distinguishing features. The first is the creaking noise it makes when the wind blows, which can be an eerie sound at times. The second is its foliage, which, under the right conditions, looks like a cascade of water.
For more information about Ironwoods, go to wildlifeofhawaii.com/flowers/774/casuarina-equisetifolia-common-ironwood/.
Graham's Island 