Field botanist Steve Perlman has been at the forefront of protecting Hawaii’s endangered species for more than 40 years. He is one of the state's original 'rock star' botanists - literally. In the 1970s, he pioneered rappelling down high cliffs to save the Brighamia insignis - a rare Hawaiian plant commonly known as the Alula.
'Rock Star' Botanist Rappels Down Cliffs to Save Hawaii's Rarest Plants
- By Heidi Chang
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Botanist Steve Perlman collects seeds from of the few remaining Platanthera holochila, a native orchid species which is on the Plant Extinction Prevention program’s target list. (Photo by ©Hank Oppenheimer)
