Ohia lehua bush and lava field, Hawaii 2005

Close-up of small *Ohia lehua* tree growing on solidified lava of Kilauea iki lava lake, Kilauea caldera, the Big Island of Hawaii. The Ohia lehua (*Metrosideros polymorpha),* a member of the myrtle family*,* is a native and one of the most common plant species of the Hawaiian islands. It has a very wide range of habitats, can grow up to 80ft. tall and is one of the first plants to colonise cooled lava fields. It is an important food plant for native birds