Rising Tide Images
Silk Oak Blossoms
The brush-like inflorescences of the silk oak tree attract nectar feeding birds and insects. A mejiro enjoys the nectar of this aesthetic shade tree viewed on a densely forested steep slope from an adjacent trail. Native to Australia and naturalized in Hawaii, silk oaks (not a true oak) were introduced as an ornamental and forestry tree. Despite the attractive hardwood lumber used in cabinets and flooring, the sawdust is toxic and can produce severe allergic reactions from contact and inhalation, so it is not commercially milled in Hawaii.
Silk Oak Blossoms
The brush-like inflorescences of the silk oak tree attract nectar feeding birds and insects. A mejiro enjoys the nectar of this aesthetic shade tree viewed on a densely forested steep slope from an adjacent trail. Native to Australia and naturalized in Hawaii, silk oaks (not a true oak) were introduced as an ornamental and forestry tree. Despite the attractive hardwood lumber used in cabinets and flooring, the sawdust is toxic and can produce severe allergic reactions from contact and inhalation, so it is not commercially milled in Hawaii.