Vegetation of Lake Waiau, Hawaii

Author:

Neal, Marie C.

Title:

Vegetation of Lake Waiau, Hawaii

Periodical:

Paradise of the Pacific

Year:

1939

Volume:

51

Pages:

7, 32

Subject:

Lake Waiau Diatoms Lake Waiau Plants Mauna Kea

Summary:

In August, 1935, the highest body of water in the Pacific that is located at the 13,000 foot level of Mauna Kea, Lake Waiau was the center of interest during an eleven day encampment on its shore on the island of Hawaii. The purpose of this expedition was to determine what plants, if any, grew on the lake's damp beach and in the water. This document reports that while there was very little vegetation near the lake, vegetation was found as follows: two kinds of chickweed, two kinds of grass, one thistle plant, a few plants of fleabane and dandelion, as well as a kind of fern that grew at the higher and lower altitudes of Mauna Kea. This fern was also known to have worldwide distribution. In addition, a few and possibly native Hawaiian mosses and lichens were found. In the interior of the lake, a few kinds of microscopic plants as well as green- and blue-green colored algae were found. An enormous quantity of minute animals of various kinds, that included a crustacean, were also found. In addition, a fungus, called a water mold, was found growing on dead crustaceans.

Label:

Lake Waiau

Date:

1939

Collection:

Periodicals