Plant Profile
Psychotria mariniana
Kōpiko
Main Plant Information
Genus
Psychotria
Species
mariniana
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Kōpiko
Hawaiian Names
- Kopiko
Common Names
- Forest wild coffee
Synonyms
- Coffea mariniana
- Psychotria hawaiiensis var. glabrithyrsa
- Straussia mariniana
Plant Characteristics
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
- Tree, Medium, 30 to 50
- Tree, Large, Greater than 50
Mature Size, Width
To about 45 feet, possibly more.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Screening
- Specimen Plant
Additional Landscape Use Information
Although this common species is rarely used, thus far in the urban landscape, it does have great potential as an easy-to-grow shrub or tree. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Characteristics
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Greenish-White
- Yellow
Blooming Period
- Sporadic
Leaf Characteristics
Plant texture
- Medium
- Coarse
Leaf Colors
- Dark Green
- Medium Green
Pests and Diseases
Additional Pest & Disease Information
In cultivation if left unchecked, scale can be somewhat problematic. Inspect under the leaves and the new leaves and treat as needed. Ants can be a source of the problem. Control the ants and you will likely control the scale problem. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Growth Requirements
Fertilizer
Loves foliar monthly feedings with fish or kelp emulsion. Ferlizers for acidic plants, too, should be applied several times a year. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Water Requirements
- Moist
Additional Water Information
Not too fussy, and appears to tolerate from wet to dry conditions. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Additional Lighting Information
Full sun at higher elevations; partial at lower elevations seems best for this species. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Soils
- Cinder
- Organic
Environmental Information
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
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
This common species grows from about 200 to 4000 feet in dry (sounthern Waiʻanae Mts., Oʻahu) to high elevation wet forest (Kokeʻe Plateau, Kauaʻi).
Special Features and Information
General Information
Kōpiko ( Psychotria ) are members of the Coffee family (Rubiaceae). This huge family, one of the five largest plant families, has more than 6500 species and includes coffee ( Coffea ), ixora, gardenia, noni ( Morinda citrifolia ), and noxious non-native garden weeds as buttonweed ( Spermacoce assurgens ) and field madder or spurwort ( Sherardia arvensis ).
The native family members are ʻahakea ( Bobea spp.), alaheʻe ( Pysydrax odorata ), pilo ( Coproma spp.), kōpiko or manono ( Kadua spp.), noni kuahiwi ( Morinda trimera ), mākole ( Nertera granadensis ), and three nānū or nāʻū ( Gardenia spp.).
Etymology
The generic name Psychotria is derived from the Greek psychros , cold, and trophos , feeder, literally meaning refreshment, in reference to the reputed medicinal properties of some in this genus. [3]
Early Hawaiian Use
The hard whitish wood of kōpiko were used by the Hawaiians for anvils or kua kuku for beating kapa, as well as for fuel. [1,2]
Additional References
[1] Hawaiian Dictionaries http://wehewehe.org [Accessed 5/05/10]
[2] “Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced) by Elbert L. Little, Jr. and Roger G. Skolmen, page 354.
[3] “The Names of Plants” by David Gledhill, page 318.
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