Wikstroemia phillyreifolia

Description:

kia or Hawaii false oheloThymelaeaceae (Daphne family)Endemic to the Hawaiian IslandsHawaii Volcanoes National Park, HawaiiRoots, 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.NPH00003nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Wikstroemia_phillyreif...