Embedded Files
ʻŌhiʻa - the ʻŌhiʻa is the cornerstone of the native forest. It grows at any elevation under 7000 feet. It also has many forms, thus the polymorphia scientific name. I've seen it as ground cover on the Aiea Ridge trail and up to 50 feet tall on the Big Island at Volcanoes National Park. Although there are many variations, one common feature is the flower. The flower is in a shape of a pompom and when in full inflorescence is an unbelievable sight. There are 5 endemic species of ʻŌhiʻa, but many subspecies and at times is hard to tell if a tree is an ʻŌhiʻa tree unless one analyzes the features. With that being said, you can tell when the forest is native as the ʻŌhiʻa trees are in abundance. Recently, there is news of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death which is cause for concern. The questions is, if the foundation is being destroyed, then what about the other native plants which the ʻŌhiʻa supports?...make:(
Background Information
ʻŌhiʻa occurs on all the major Hawaiian Islands. It is in the myrtle family. The uses the Hawaiians had for the tree was unbelievable. They used it to built heiaus (temples), weapons, kapa beaters, medicinal tea. It is also symbolic in chants, stories, songs. It was also a favorite food for the native honeycreepers. The list goes on and on. In modern times, the ʻŌhiʻa is used in cultural ceremonies like hula halau. It continues to have many symbolic and cultural meanings. It also continues to be a favorite food for honeycreepers.
Huge Ohia tree on Moanalua Middle
ʻŌhiʻa
The scientific name of ʻŌhiʻa is metrosideros. This particular species of plant seems to be a polymorphia species. Like mentioned above, polymorphia means many species of plant. There are many different looking polymorphia ʻŌhiʻa. The leaves on this one is oval.
ʻŌhiʻa
Here is another metrosideros polymorphia species. The flowers are usually red, but his one is yellow. Hawaiians refer to the yellow ʻŌhiʻa has mamo. It is more rarer to find a yellow ʻŌhiʻa, but they definitely do exist especially on a few state trails.
ʻŌhiʻa
Here is another different color ʻŌhiʻa. This one is orange. I'm not sure what Hawaiians called the orange color flowers. This is another polymorphia species of ʻŌhiʻa. The orange too is uncommon.
ʻŌhiʻa
Hiking in the forest with an abundance of ʻŌhiʻa trees for me is of great importance. It symbolized great hiking on Oahu. The reason is for all the disturbance Oahu has with its environment, the places that do have an abundance of ʻŌhiʻa trees is a symbol of what is left of the native forest which is not much.
ʻŌhiʻa
I took this picture on the summit in the Central Ko'olaus. The Ohia is like ground cover because of the windswept summit. This plant looks like a polymorphia, but I'm not sure if it creates its on own polymorphia variation because of the environmental conditions. These plants rarely grow more than 1 foot tall because of the windy conditions at the summit.
ʻŌhiʻa
Hawaiians call the young leaves liko. They are sometimes dark red or maroon in color. It usually comes out at the top. As the leaves get older, they turn green.
ʻŌhiʻa
This polymorphia species was found on Kauai and I believe the subspecies is called dieteri. It was taken by fellow hiker Aprille at the Alaka'i Swamp. It is only found on Kauai.
ʻŌhiʻa
This species of ʻŌhiʻa is called metrosideros tremuloides. The Hawaiian name is ʻŌhiʻa ʻāhihi. It features this red stem with pointy leaves at the tip. The leaves are almost always smallI. It does not look like your typical ʻŌhiʻa and you may get it confused with other native plants.
ʻŌhiʻa
This species of metrosideros is called rugosa. The Hawaiian name is Lehua Papa. The leaves a rugose and small in size. They have distinct scales and the veins are raised. The picture on the left does great justice on how it should look. The occurrence is usually right before the summit and on the summit.
ʻŌhiʻa
This species is called metrosideros macropus. It is known as Lehua Ōhiʻa. The leaves are bigger than normal polymorphia species. Flowers from these trees are usually yellow, but sometimes red. The leaves sometimes have a yellow tinge on them. The petiole (connects the leaf to the stem) appears yellow, but this could be for young plants. This particular species only occurs in the Koolau Mountains Range on Oahu.
ʻŌhiʻa
This plant appears to be a macropus, but the flower is red, usually the flower is yellow.
persistent bracts
ʻŌhiʻa
Not to be confused or forgotten is the ʻŌhia hā. This is not a metrosideros species and is not in the myrtle family, but Hawaiians also referred to this plant as ʻŌhia. The scientific name is syzygium sandwicense. They look like an ʻŌhia tree, however once the red berries appear, you can tell it is not a metrosideros species. This tree does not have the pompom flower. The flower is white.
Sources:
- Flowering Plants of Hawaii, p964-970
- Hall, 131-134
- Hawaiian Magazine webpage
Ohia Ahihi x Macropus (July, 2018)
Has both the long leaf and red long stem
Google Sites
Report abuse