Māmaki
Māmaki
Common in gulches or wet forest. Usually a tree.
Background Information
- Genus: Pipturus
- 4 Endemic Species
- Nettle family
- Ancient uses: Favorite food of the caterpillar of the Kamehameha Butterfly. Inner bark used to make kapa. Made into Tea
- Modern uses: Tea, non caffeinated
Pipturus
Appearance
- Height: Up to 20 feet tall
- Flower: Hug the stem
- Leaves: Alternate oval leaves that come to a sharp point. Has small teeth around the edges. Leaves have fine hairs beneath. The veins underneath are reddish
- Branch: Branches are gray, dark brown with woolly hairs
Mamake tree on Manoa Cliffs Trail
Pipturus albidus
Kahekili Trail
- These are two variations
Sources:
- Flowering Plants of Hawaii, 1307-1310
- Hawaiian Plant Life, 166
- Hall, p93