Metrosideros polymorpha

ʻŌhiʻa lehua
ʻŌhiʻa lehua flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Metrosideros
Species:
M. polymorpha
Binomial name
Metrosideros polymorpha
Varieties[2]

M. p. var. dieteri
M. p. var. glaberrima
M. p. var. incana
M. p. var. macrophylla
M. p. var. newelli
M. p. var. polymorpha
M. p. var. pumila
M. p. var. pseudorugosa

Synonyms[3]
List
    • Metrosideros collina f. lurida rock
    • Metrosideros collina f. sericea Rock
    • Metrosideros collina f. strigosa Rock
    • Metrosideros collina subsp. polymorpha (Gaudich.) Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. glaberrima (H.Lév.) Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. glabrifolia (A.Heller) Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. haleakalesis Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. hemilanata Hochr.
    • Metrosideros collina var. imbricata Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. incana (H.Lév.) Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. macrophylla Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. newellii Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. prostrata Rock
    • Metrosideros collina var. pumila (A.Heller) Rock
    • Metrosideros hillebrandii H.Lév. & Vaniot
    • Metrosideros pumila (A.Heller) Hochr.
    • Nania glabrifolia A.Heller
    • Nania polymorpha (Gaudich.) A.Heller
    • Nania pumila A.Heller

Metrosideros polymorpha, the ʻōhiʻa lehua,[4] is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaiʻi. It is a member of the diverse Metrosideros genus, which are widespread over the southwest Pacific. It is the state tree of Hawai‘i.[5]

It is a highly variable tree, being 20–25 m (66–82 ft) tall in favorable situations, and a much smaller prostrate shrub when growing in boggy soils or directly on basalt. It produces a brilliant display of flowers, made up of a mass of stamens, which can range from fiery red to yellow. Many native Hawaiian traditions refer to the tree and the forests it forms as sacred to Pele, the volcano goddess, and to Laka, the goddess of hula. ʻŌhiʻa trees grow easily on lava, and are usually the first plants to grow on new lava flows.

Metrosideros polymorpha is commonly called a lehua tree, or an ʻōhiʻa lehua, or simply an ʻōhiʻa; all are correct,[6] although ʻōhiʻa is also used to refer to the tomato as well as certain varieties of sugarcane and taro.[7] There is a widespread but mistaken notion that the Hawaiʻian word ʻōhiʻa only refers to the tree and that the word lehua only refers to its flowers.

  1. ^ Keir, M. (2020). "Metrosideros polymorpha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T62779A103803370. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T62779A103803370.en. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference TradTree was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
  4. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of ʻōhiʻa". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press.; Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of lehua". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press.
  5. ^ "05/24/22 – IT'S OFFICIAL! ʻŌHIʻA LEHUA BECOMES HAWAI'I STATE ENDEMIC TREE". Department of Land and Natural Resources. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  6. ^ Wagner, Warren Lambert; Herbst, D.R.; Sohmer, S.H. (1990). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaiʻi (revised ed.). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. pp. 967–969. ISBN 9780824821661.
  7. ^ "Combined Hawaiian Dictionary: ʻōhiʻa". trussel2.com.