Today This Flower Convinced Me
There's no way, I'll ever become a plant and flower expert.
Out in the woods, near a riverbed we spotted this single bloom, just after it rained.
So, I told Map It Okinawa "We better shoot this one. It may be some rare Okinawa orchid."
There are some plants in the Ryukyu Island jungles that have become endangered species.
It's because they are so rare, people steal them to sell.
Some places, they patrol at night to catch the criminals, who probably come from the city.
Don't you wish we could tar and feather them ?
Anyway, after we got out of the woods it was time to see if someone could help ID the plant.
Higashi Village Museum was the place to go. They have some awesome friendly staff.
When we showed the gal the flower photos, she knew the name, right away.
It isn't an orchid. It's a Nobotan (のぼたん) or, Melastome.
That Sort of Busted a Bubble
The plant isn't some exotic, endangered species, near threatened or, anything like that.
The Asian Melastome (Melastoma candidum) grows all over Southeast Asia.
It has many medicinal uses, too.
So, I snoop around the World Wide Web and see what I can find for everyone.
Along came reality. It smacked me right on the head.
These flowers, I've seen hundreds of them, before and called them Forest Stars !
That does it. I never wanted to be a flower expert, anyway.
If anyone reading this does, you should checkout FindTheData. I promised them a link.
