Fern Photos: Flying Spider-monkey Tree

Listed in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants as Rare

 

 

These fern trees grow all over the northern hills of Okinawa, Japan.

Those IUCN dudes should come over to the Ryukyu Islands sometime and, pay me a visit.

As soon as I find the recipe, I'm going to learn how to cook them.

That's because, according to local legend, people used to eat the young things.

The little golden sprouts, people claim, look like a spider-monkey's arms.

That's the part of the plant folks were eating, way before the microwave oven was invented.

Nowadays, everybody just hops in the car and drives to fast-food joints.

That couldn't have anything to do with getting FAT, could it ?

It would be best to chop those little monkey arms off while the tree is less than a meter tall.

You would have to climb way up to the top of the tree to grab some when they are full grown.

Normally, I don't carry a tape measure or, ruler with me when I'm out in the jungle.

Different sources say this tree grows 3-5 meters tall.

From my observations, I think they might get to be 10 meters or, taller.

The first two photos were taken on Mt. Yonaha, two days ago.

This photo shows the Flying Spider-monkey Ferns in 2009 at the Azalea Festival.

They are really pretty trees and, I probably wouldn't eat them.

But, I would, before I'd go chasing after a real monkey to eat !

Read more about these IUCN Threatened Plants at Trebrown

or

Dave's Garden

Selected Scenes: The Hike Up Mt.Yonaha (与那覇岳) Okinawa

Ten Photos from Mt. Yonaha

 

This series of photos was taken, today as we hiked up the tallest mountain on Okinawa.

It should give the viewer a sense of what to expect to see along the route.

There isn't any special mountain climbing gear required to scale this big hill.

Sturdy walking shoes and the will to reach the top are all that's needed.

This landslide probably happened during one of last year's typhoons.

 Fallen trees, you have a choice.  Go over, under or, around them.

It's a designated Wildlife Protection Area so, I wouldn't mess with anything.  Not even a fallen tree.

There is a surprising amount of bamboo growing on the mountain.

Going under fallen trees got tiring so, I opted to go over some of them.

The trail is definitely, NOT Flip-flop, Baby Buggy or, Skateboard Friendly !

 If you wear a backpack or, carry little critters on your back, Be Careful.

Every once in awhile, I got hung-up or, unintentionally, banged my head on something.

Plan on spending an hour and a half or, two hours getting to the top.

And, the same amount of time on the return trip, so you don't slip and fall.

This 498 meter sign, is at the end of the trail and I figured we gotterdun.

But, Doc Graff and Map It Okinawa talked to some local gals and found out something.

Somewhere, around that place there's a higher point that comes to 503 meters.

That means, as soon as my legs and back quit hurtin' we have to climb back up Mt. Yonaha.

And, getterdun properly.  Dagnabbit !