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Kōpiko is common in the wet forest on Oahu. The easiest way to identify the plant is the line of holes underneath the leaf. If far away, it can be easily confused with 'Ahakea which looks similar.
Background Information
Kōpiko is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and if you hike on Oahu should be one of the first plants you can identify on a regular basis. The reason is because if you get into Native Hawaiian Plants, this would be one of the first plants you interact with. As mentioned, if you turn over the leaf, Kōpiko should have a line of alternating holes which is the give away. In Ancient Hawaii, Hawaiians used the plant for anvils and to beat kapa.
Holes under the leaves
Kōpiko
Kōpiko can grow tall, up to 40 feet in height and I've actually seen some really tall ones in the Ko'olaus. The plant is in the coffee family. The scientific name is psychotria hawaiiensis, might be easier to call it Kōpiko. It has a ring to it. When flowering, it has a greenish-white star shape and is very small. It clusters at the top of the stem.
Kōpiko
When first fruiting, the berries are green. However, as the berries mature, they turn yellow and then orange. The berries are round and protrude from the top of the plant. Fruiting occurs in the fall.
Source:
- Hall, 105
- Hawaiian Plant Life, 151-152
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