Bringing Animals, Plants and Fruit from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland: The Good,the Bad,the Ugly,the Loud and the Invisible

摘要

Hawaii, the "Aloha State," is a glorious chain of islands regarded as a paradise by locals and tourists alike. Lush exotic tropical fruits and plants thrive there, both introduced and native, including some rare and endangered species—like the endangered Haleaka silversword, whose only known habitat is the slopes of a dormant Maui volcano. Others include wild orchids, plumeria, ginger, commercially grown pineapple and sugarcane, coffee bushes, coconut, papaya and mango, passionfruit, exotic cut flowers and unusual house plants. Be careful foraging, however, because not all fruits and seeds found here are edible—like the indigenous Seabean vine, whose seeds are poisonous. For more information on what you'll find growing in the Aloha State, check the Hawaiian Plants & Tropical Flowers website at http://wildlifeofhawaii. com/flowers.