Wikstroemia phillyreifolia

Description:

kia or Hawaii false oheloThymelaeaceaeEndemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii Island only)Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii IslandFruitwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5179829954/in/photostream/Roots, bark, leaves and stems were used as a poison to stupefy fish called hola which were then gathered by the early Hawaiians. The plant parts were crushed, placed in a porous container, and sunk in salt water pools. The fish were safe to eat because kia is not known to be poisonous to warm-blooded creatures by means of this fishing method.EtymologyThe genus is named for Johan Emanuel Wikstrm (1789-1856), a Swedish botanist and author of several papers on Thymelaeaceae.The specific epithet phillyreifolia is derived from the Latin Phillyrea, a genus in the Olive family (Oleaceae), and folius, leaves, referring to the leaves resembling Phillyrea spp.NPH00004nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Wikstroemia_phillyreif...