Myrsine sandwicensis
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
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
Flower Type
Not Showy
Plant texture
- Medium
Leaf Colors
- Light Green
- Medium Green
- Red
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.
Water Requirements
- Moist
- Wet
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Soils
- Organic
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.
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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