The emerging leaf of Pinanga disticha, a small clustering palm from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra. It is growing in #Holualoa, #Hawaii at 590m.

The amazing Brownea macrophylla a tree native to Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela is now flowering for the second time in our collection. #Holualoa #BigIsland of #Hawaii

Cotyledon function can be either leafy & photosynthetic (foliaceous) or thick & fleshy (storage reserve). Here’s a graphic from prometheusprotocols.net. https://bit.ly/4rVsxXV This graphic does not show every variation. The key to the abbreviations is in the alt text. 3/3

I got my hands one some seeds of Pinanga subterranea, a #palm 🌴 from #Borneo that was described scientifically for the first time in 2023. It is the only known palm so far that flowers and fruits underground! Let's see if the seeds germinate 🙏. #Hawaii #Holualoa

Planted a Kepel tree seedling (Stelechocarpus burahol). 1 out of 5 seeds had germinated (Took almost a year). Got the seeds in July 2024. A truly spectacular tree (from SE Asia, Malesia). The flowers and fruits are directly on the trunk (cauliflory) and the fruit is edible.

A new flush of colorful leaves by Theobroma grandiflorum, commonly known as cupuaçu. It is a #cacao relative, native to the Amazon (Brazil 🇧🇷). Growing in #Holualoa #Hawaii.

Who else is growing Theobroma glaucum? We’re stoked to have planted our first seedling—a unique species distinct from the standard cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao). Can’t wait to see its spectacular cauliflory flowers in a few years! #Hawaii #Holualoa #BigIsland

We turbocharged one of our 🥑 avocado trees (Persea americana) with red jade vine (Mucuna bennettii). It is totally taking off this year & provides a constant display of fireworks! #Holualoa #BigIsland #Hawaii

Zingiber spectabile 'Early Yellow' blooming in #Holualoa #Hawaii. This ginger is native to Southeast Asia and is also commonly called the beehive ginger.

The amazing flower of Passiflora laurifolia, a passionfruit species from neotropical America that is commonly called "water lemon". It is growing here in #Holualoa #Hawaii.

Prestoea ensiformis showing off its colorful roots! P. ensiformis is a neotropical palm that grows in #Colombia, #CostaRica, #Ecuador, #Panama, and #Peru. The specimen in our collection is mildly clustering and is growing in a moist shady spot since 2017. #Holualoa #Hawaii

The tropical tree Amherstia nobilis (Pride of Burma) is such an amazing little tree! Flowing in #Holualoa #Hawaii