Coprosma ernodeoides

Description:

Kkaenn, Aiakann or Black-fruited coprosmaRubiaceaeEndemic to the Hawaiian IslandsHawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii IslandPistillate (female) flowersEarly Hawaiians made a yellow dye from the inner bark and the fruits were used to make a dark purple or black dye.The leaves flowers and black fruits were also strung on lei.The genus name Coprosma means "smelling like dung." By coincidence, the Hawaiian name kkaenn literally means "nn dung." This refers not to the smell but to the dung-like appearance of the dark fruits, which do in fact resemble nn droppings (kkae). Nevertheless, nn (Branta sandvicensis), or Hawaiian goose, do eat the fruits as part of their natural diet. So then, one might say that when kkaenn is eaten by nn and they deposit their kkae, kkaenn is spread throughout the nn habitat!Interestingly, another name for Coprosma ernodeoides is aiakann, literally meaning "food of the nn."Fruits can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/4736584275/NPH00001nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Coprosma_ernodeoides