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