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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Wednesday - January 04, 2006

From: Honolulu, HI
Region: Hawaii
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: State flower of Hawaii
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

What color is the state flower of Hawaii?

ANSWER:

Yellow. In 1988 the Hawaii state legislature adopted the yellow-flowered Hawaiian native, Ma'o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) as its official state flower. Between 1922 and 1988 the entire Hibiscus genus - regardless of species, color and native and non-native alike -- was considered the Hawaiian state flower.

Hawaii's state tree, the Kukui tree (Aleurites moluccana) is the only non-native state tree in America. It is native to Malaysia and western Polynesia. Nevertheless, it is much-used and much-loved by the Hawaiian people.

 

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