STORY BEHIND THE ART OF LESLEY RANDALL

18th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists at The Horticultural Society of New York

Olulu

Brighamia insignis

 I chose this particular plant because it is yet another critically endangered Hawaiian species. The species is endemic to the Napali Coast of Kauai, where it grows on steep rocky cliffs. Predation by goats, competition from invasive plants and natural disasters (landslides and the occasional hurricane) have all contributed to this species' decline. There is one plant left in the wild as of 2007. (I don't know if that has changed.) In addition to loss of numbers by these outside factors, the species has probably lost its pollinator (thought to be a long tongued moth), so there is no seed set. Fortunately it has been widely cultivated through hand pollination. I have several of these in my own collection, so had living specimens to draw from.

The name, Olulu, is one of its Hawaiian names, but I could not find out what that means. Willliam Tufts Brigham (1841-1926) was the first director of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, the Hawaii State Museum of Natural and Cultural History. He made many scientific collections of Hawaiian plants, including those from which the Brighamia was described. The species name, insignis, is Latin for outstanding or remarkable, which does describe this plant. It is commonly called "Cabbage on a Stick" in English, and that is what it looks like - a stout succulent trunk with a rosette of broad green leaves at the top. The tubular flowers are a pale yellow or creamy white. When a plant is in full bloom, it looks like it is covered with stars.

I like to draw plants that have unusual shapes, have a story and are endangered or threatened, so the Brighamia fit all criteria. I feel it is important to bring attention to endangered species and hope, through exhibiting my art, to bring that attention to a wide audience. Since my background is in scientific illustration, I focus on the diagnostic characters of a plant and have lots of detail drawings surrounding the habit drawing. The bumpy surface of the seed is what sets this species apart from the only other Brighamia (B. rockii.) I love working in pen and ink. I think it is a very elegant medium and in a way, it shows the bare essentials of the plant by using light and shadow. When people view my piece, I hope they will notice all the fine details that make this species special. I was intrigued by the ruffled edges of the petals, the hairs on the staminal column, the way the capsule splits and exudes a sticky white sap and, yes, those bumpy little seeds. These details sucked me in, and I hope viewers will be attracted as well.

This piece is part of a series of endangered native Hawaiian plants that I am working on. Unfortunately, there are many to choose from. I am currently in the middle of inking a silversword.

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Read more about this artist's work: 17th Annual International