Sesbania tomentosa

Description:

OhaiFabaceae (Legume or Pea family)Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (All the main islands and some of the Northwest Islands*)NatureServe: Imperiled; Endangered Kaena Point, Oahu (foreground) growing with naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada). Kaena Point is located on the western tip of the island of Oahu.This particular form of ohai survives only here in this very restricted area. Closeupwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5187942965/in/photostream/Ohai were one of the favored lei flowers by early Hawaiians. On Niihau, they called this plant ohai o Papiahuli, the meaning is unknown.Ohai are still used today in lei and strung much like other native pea-like flowers, such as wikiwiki, mmane, nanea, nuku iiwi, and wiliwili.EtymologyThe generic name Sesbania is derived from sesban, the Arabic name for Sesbania sesban (syn S. aegyptiaca), Egyptian rattlepod.The specific epithet tomentosa means "furry" or literally "covered with matted hairs," though not all forms are furry._____* In the Northwest Islands ohai is found on Necker (Mokumanamana) and is a rather common component in the shrubland on Nhoa (Moku Manu).NPH00006nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sesbania_tomentosa