‘Ōhi‘a lehua
Names
- ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: ‘Ōhi‘a lehua
- Scientific: Metrosideros polymorpha
Conservation Status
- NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 – Secure
- IUCN Red List Ranking – Vulnerable
Species Information
‘Ōhi‘a lehua is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawai’i and is the most common native Hawaiian tree, comprising 80% of Hawaii’s native forests. It is a member of the Myrtaceae family. It is the dominant tree above 1,300 ft. ‘Ōhi‘a lehua is a very slow growing tree, which grows from 20 to 25 m (66 to 82 ft) tall in favorable conditions. It is a colonizer of recent lava flows. Its flowers are a mass of stamens and range from fiery red to yellow. ‘Ōhi‘a lehua wood was traditionally used for kapa beaters, poi boards, and weapons, while its leaves were used as a medicinal tea. Its flowers and young growth were used for lei and hula altar adornment. Leaves of this tree sustained populations of native birds, such as the apapane and the mamo, whose vibrant feathers were used in traditional Hawaiian clothing and ceremonial adornments. Today, ‘ōhi‘a lehua blossoms continue to be used in cultural ceremonies and practices, such as lei and hula, though many hula practitioners have begun forgoing the use of ōhi‘a lehua to prevent the spread of ROD and protect this culturally significant tree species. Adapted to the variable and sometimes harsh weather conditions of the Hawaiian islands, ōhi‘a lehua play a key role in watershed protection and water conservation by retaining water following storm events and preventing subsequent erosion and flooding.
Distribution
Grows from sea level to 8000 ft elevation.
Habitat
Common in moist and dry forests
Threats
- Discovered on Hawaii island in 2014, Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) is a fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriate) that attacks and quickly kills Ohia trees. On Hawaii thousands of Ohia trees have already been killed by ROD. As researchers believe this fungus can spread over long distances, ROD has the potential to kill Ohia trees across the entire state.
- Wildfire
- Damage from feral ungulates, especially young seedlings
- Loss of pollinators
- Myrtle rust
- Competition with alien invasive species
Plans & Projects
How to report suspected Rapid Ohia Death
References & Additional Resources
Hawai‘i State Big Tree Program – Ōhiʻa lehua
“Metrosideros Polymorpha.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2020, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/62779/103803370.
Photos
