Myrsine sandwicensis

leaf Main Plant Information

Genus

Myrsine

Species

sandwicensis

Hawaiian Names with Diacritics

  • Kōlea lau liʻi

Hawaiian Names

  • Kolea lau lii

Synonyms

  • Myrsine vanioti
  • Rapanea sandwicensis
  • Suttonia mauiensis
  • Suttonia sandwicensis
  • Suttonia vanioti

leaf Plant Characteristics

Distribution Status

Endemic

Endangered Species Status

No Status

Plant Form / Growth Habit

  • Shrub
  • Tree

Mature Size, Height (in feet)

  • Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
  • Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10
  • Tree, Small, 15 to 30

Life Span

Long lived (Greater than 5 years)

Landscape Uses

  • Accent
  • Hedges

Plant Produces Flowers

Yes

leaf Flower Characteristics

Flower Type

Not Showy

leaf Leaf Characteristics

Plant texture

  • Medium

Leaf Colors

  • Light Green
  • Medium Green
  • Red

leaf Pests and Diseases

Additional Pest & Disease Information

Watch for signs red spider mites which can appear in warmer months especially. Check under leaves for tiny reddish brown dots and treat immediately with a miticide (not inscticide) as these pests spread quickly.

leaf Growth Requirements

Water Requirements

  • Moist
  • Wet

Soil must be well drained

Yes

Light Conditions

  • Full sun
  • Partial sun

Soils

  • Organic

leaf Environmental Information

Natural Range

  • Oʻahu
  • Molokaʻi
  • Lānaʻi
  • Maui
  • Hawaiʻi

Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)

  • 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 150 to 1000, Greater than 100 (Wet)
  • 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 1000 to 1999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
  • 2000 to 2999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 2000 to 2999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
  • 3000 to 3999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 3000 to 3999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
  • 4000 to 4999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 4000 to 4999, Greater than 100 (Wet)

Habitat

  • Terrestrial

Additional Habitat Information

Kōlea lau liʻi is found in mesic to wet forests, shrublands and bogs at from 985 to about 4825 feet in elevation on Oʻahu (Waiʻanae and Koʻolau mountains), East Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, West and East Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island.

leaf Special Features and Information

General Information

Myrsine is in the Primrose family or Primulaceae.

Family members include garden flowers such as shooting star (Dodecatheon spp.), and of course, primrose (Pruimula spp.). But perhaps the most recognizable member, in name at least, is the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)--yes, a real plant, unlike the fictional character in the literature and play The Scarlet Pimpernel. Incidentally, this non-native is found in the islands and is generally considered a weed.

There are nineteen Myrsine spp. endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Other native family members include fourteen species of Lysimachia and the endemic kilioe (Embelia pacifica).

Etymology

The generic name Myrsine is comes from the ancient Greek pharmacologist and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides (c.40-90 CE) name for the myrtle, which did not refer to these plants.

The species name sandwicensis refers to the "Sandwich Islands," as the Hawaiian Islands were once called, and named by James Cook on one of his voyages in the 1770's. James Cook named the islands after John Montagu (The fourth Earl of Sandwich) for supporting Cook's voyages.

Early Hawaiian Use

Canoe:

The wood was used in making gunwales for canoes. [1]

Lei:

The bright yellow, purple and red liko (new leaves) were used for lei. [2]

Medicinal:

The bark, leaves, and flowers of kōlea (Mysine spp.) were used medicinally to treat pāʻaoʻao (childhood disease, with physical weakening) and ʻea (thrush). [3]

Additional References

[1] Plants in Hawaiian Culture by Beatrice H. Krauss, pages 50, 325.

[2] "Nā Lei Makamae--The Treasured Lei" by Marie A. McDonald & Paul R. Weissich, pages 48, 66.

[3] "Native Hawaiian Medicine--Volume III" by The Rev. Kaluna M. Kaʻaiakamanu, pages 63-64.

 

PHOTOS FOR THIS SPECIES CAN BE SEEN AT THE LINK (Copy & Paste to your browser):

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50823119%40N08&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=Myrsine%20sandwicensis

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