The distinctly shaped flowers of the Metrosideros plant, known as “ohi’a” in its native Hawaii, share a symbiotic relationship with many of the islands birds, including this apapane, which pollinates the flower as it feeds on the nectar. Through research on a molecular level, scientists at the Smithsonian Institution believe these plants may have colonized the islands much earlier than once believed. Their data show that Metrosideros could have colonized the islands soon after they formed, creating specialized relationships with a number of birds and insects on the islands as they coevolved.
The distinctly shaped flowers of the Metrosideros plant, known as “ohi’a” in its native Hawaii, share a symbiotic relationship with many of the islands birds, including this apapane, which pollinates the flower as it feeds on the nectar. Through research on a molecular level, scientists at the Smithsonian Institution believe these plants may have colonized the islands much earlier than once believed. Their data show that Metrosideros could have colonized the islands soon after they formed, creating specialized relationships with a number of birds and insects on the islands as they coevolved.
