ʻIeʻie
ʻIeʻie
Names
- ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: ‘Ie’ie
- Scientific: Freycinetia arborea
Conservation Status
- NatureServe Heritage Rank G4 – Apparently Secure
Species Information
‘Ie’ie is indigenous to Hawai’i and is a part of the family Pandanaceae. It is a densley branched woody climber. It is important habitat for native snails. Early Hawaiians used ‘ie’ie to make hīnaʻi hoʻomoe iʻa (fish baskets), hīnaʻi hoʻoluʻuluʻu (fish traps), and mahiole iʻe (aliʻi helmets) (“Ie‘Ie, ‘Ie,” n.d.).
Distribution
Kaua’i, O’ahu, Maui, Moloka’i, Lāna’i, and Hawai’i Island.
Habitat
‘Ie’ie most often grows in mesic to wet forests on exposed ridges and slopes between 300 to 1500 m (91.44 to 457 ft) (“Ie‘Ie, ‘Ie,” n.d.).
Threats
- Consumption of seeds and plants by rodents
- Trampling and consumption by feral ungulates
- Competition with alien invasive plants
References & Additional Resources
“‘Ie‘Ie, ‘Ie.” Bishop Museum – Ethnobotany Database, https://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php?b=d&ID=ieie.
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