Orchids on a Volcano redux
Last year when I blogged about orchids on a volcano, it was about Akatsuka Orchids on Hawaii’s Big Island. This time, the orchids are growing right on the rim of a volcanic crater. Dave took some great photos of wild orchids while we hiked the Kilauea Iki trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The first set shows Arundinas, or Bamboo Orchids, growing in one of the volcano’s forests. Hardened black lava provides a dramatic backdrop.
Kilauea is an active volcano, but the last major lava action in this crater was 1959. Much of the rainforest on the rim has regrown in the past half century, and we saw numerous Phaius orchids on the forest floor (“Phaius” is pronounced FAY-us, and rhymes with “pay us.”) Like Bamboo Orchids, Phaius are terrestrials that grow in soil and in rock crevices.
Although neither species is native to Hawaii, both have naturalized in rainy parts of the islands. These orchids are thriving despite harsh growing conditions near the 4100 ft. (1250 m) summit. Besides strong tropical winds and rains, the black lava really bakes as it absorbs heat from the tropical sun. More amazing than that, these orchids survive dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas that vent nearby, although we took our hike on a day when the winds were in our favor. The final photo shows the eastern section of Kilauea Iki with the forest growing on its walls and rim. At this end the crater is 400 ft. (122 m) deep and over 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.
Explore posts in the same categories: Misc, Orchids in the Wild, Photos, Warm Growers
Subscribe to the About Orchids Blog:
February 5th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Can they survive baking on the black rock? Maaybe they don’t live very long.
February 6th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Gorgeous photos! I think it’s amazing that they’re not native to island, but can thrive despite the sulphur. Thanks for sharing (and the pronounciation tip 🙂 )
February 6th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
isn’t that something new? I didn’t expect to see anything growing on a volcano,, least of all orchids. thanks for the pics.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
great photos! That crater looks enormous.
February 20th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
If there not native, how did they get there? Did people plant them> Did they become wild some other way?
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:31 am
Interesting… I don’t think I’m going to go hiking on any active volcanoes soon, so thanks for sharing your experience.
March 8th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Those orchids must be very safe on the volcano. Nobody will dig them up and steal them or the lava will get them!!!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:12 am
those orchids must really love the burn 😉
March 15th, 2010 at 8:03 am
amazing post! who would guess that orchids can grow there! its amazing they can survive on the lava.
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:53 am
[…] It’s true that orchids and volcanoes have coexisted for eons, but this tale of troubles for the Dutch orchid industry adds a new angle […]