Thursday, April 18, 2013

Chapter 12 The Rocky Mountain

                                                                            Vegetation in Honolulu


Honolulu does not apply to this chapter, the Rocky Mountains is "composed of many discontinuous mountain ranges, extends nearly 2000 miles from central New Mexico to Northeastern British Columbia.  (Hardwick, Pg. 228)

Honolulu plant life is a mix of native Hawaiian plants and imported vegetation, enhancing the eclectic nature of the city. The island climate of Oahu, in the city of Honolulu helps create an environment for good vegetation. The native Hawaiian plants are now endangered due to human activity and  imported plants
Hawaii has the most isolated land mass on the planet. At 2,500 miles from any other land, it has developed a unique and fragile ecosystem with over 3,000 native species of plants and animals, many of which are endangered or near extinction. Hawaii has six vegetation zones: coastal, lowland rain forest, montane rain forest, subalpine, alpine, and dry leeward, another feature that makes the Big Island unique and a great place of bio-diversity.










Honolulu Pineapple and sugar cane were brought to the islands as a cash crop and many other plants were brought as ornamental. Hawaii spends millions of dollars each year trying to keep invasive species from crowding out native plants and animals.
The Big Island produces all sorts of exotic fruits. One of the best ways to sample them is to visit the Hilo Farmer's Market.  In this market you will see bananas, mango, papayas and pineapple, but not just the same ones you see in mainland stores. You will find exotic fruit such as bananas but not your regular bananas you will find a mixture of apple bananas or finger bananas. The island has the best mangos as well. Other exotic fruit are lychee, rambutan, longan and mangosteen, guava, strawberry guave, passionfruit (lilikoi) and ohelo berries.


References

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