I want to continue building off from the nā pilina (the relationships) theme of the last two posts but continue through the world of plants. For the last three, going on four, years I have worked very closely with ‘iliahi, also known as Hawaiian sandalwood, and specifically with one ‘iliahi species, Santalum paniculatum. ‘Iliahi has a unique relationship in the plant world as a tree that requires other plants to thrive. ‘Iliahi physically connects its roots to the roots of other plants with specialized root structures. These connections allow resources to flow directly between the plants, adding an extra dimension to the underground plant networks. ʻIliahi (Santalum paniculatum) is front left with its friends ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa) front right and koa (Acacia koa) back left. One of the biggest things this relationship means for ‘iliahi is that it not only can it make its own food by one of the coolest natural processes out there (aka photosynthesis) - it can also acquire food and resources from other plants. That’s not even considering the relationships it has with fungi where ‘iliahi and fungi exchange goods (think of a kind of potluck). Plants, like humans, have a very colorful relationship scene. Plant relationships can be dominated by competition and a bit strife. They can be more cooperative and facilitative in nature. They can be parasitic or symbiotic. They can be promiscuous or more solitary. Like ‘iliahi - plants have relationships with other plants. Like the corpse plant – plants have relationships with humans. Like orchids – plants have relationships with insects. Like hāhā – plants have relationships with birds. And so on! Before my Ph.D. I hadn’t thought much about plant relationships, and now I feel like my doctorate work focuses on plant relationships. And now I can’t stop seeing the parallels between plant and human relationships. The need to be independent and dependent. Growing your own roots as well as connecting roots directly and indirectly by intertwining with others. We can connect our shoots too, where we branch off to. I’ve been asked several times why I chose to study ‘iliahi so closely, and I feel like I haven’t been able to provide satisfactory answers. Part of why I think they’ve been unsatisfactory is because I’ve tried to find a complete rationale behind my choice that isn’t fully there. I don’t feel like I chose ‘iliahi. Rather we found each other; it was the right timing. I was looking to expand my horizons of forest restoration, and ‘iliahi was/is at a critical tipping point. Some ʻiliahi seedlings have gorgeous symmetry that leaves a very balanced impression. For ‘iliahi, the tipping point to a future of abundance rather than scarcity depends on a relationship change with people. ‘Iliahi has a dark history of exploitation and hurt. There is a lot of trauma with ‘iliahi in Hawaiian history as the first tax on the people of the Hawaiian kingdom. Many people in present times thought ‘iliahi were extinct. I wonder, can we view ‘iliahi with potential to be an important partner in native forests? Can the value of ‘iliahi be respected, sustainably harvested, and help fund restoration and conservation efforts to further perpetuate itself and other native plants? If we know more about ‘iliahi’s relationship status, can we better mālama (take care of) this kumulāʻau (tree)?
I think the answer to these questions can all be a resounding “yes.” Especially if we understand that relationships are complex and take time to tend to the beautiful complexity.
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AuthorI started this blog as part of my Botany In Action Fellowship through Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Archives
June 2023
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