Most native Hawaiian plant lovers know about the native tree fern, hapu’u, falling down and then carrying on with life by sending up new fronds. But other native plants can also do this. The small tree, pilo, grows tall and skinny. Especially when young, its flexibility causes it to bend easily in the wind. However, in a sustained blow it might not spring back, but stay in a more horizontal position. This in turn allows more sunlight to reach the trunk causing shoots of leaves to come up along nodes in the trunk.
A smaller flowering plant, clermontia, also can continue to grow from a prone position, moving its leaves to a new direction. The key is to maintain some root connection with the ground. Our ‘ohi’a is very good at that. It has lots of roots spreading out, so that if it topples over, some are sure to hang on and provide nourishment while the tree recovers and grows more roots. In an intact forest, the surrounding vegetation provides shade and moisture to the newly exposed parts of the tree. This is often sufficient for a recovery. When a fallen ‘ohi’a does not recover, it can still contribute to the health of the forest. It does this by providing a place for other plants to grow on it, and its eventual decay releases nourishment to other plants. If a plant is not too tall, you may consider righting it and staking it. But one need not despair of letting it lie, as the forest is very protective of its fallen brethren.
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