Hawai'I Hala Pepe

Description

Pleomele hawaiiensis, the Hawai-i hala pepe, is a rare species of flowering plant that is endemic to the island of Hawai-i in the state of Hawaii.It inhabits dry forests on old -a-- lava flows at elevations of 300-800 metres (980-2,620 ft) on the leeward side of the island.Associated plants include: --hi-a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), m-mane (Sophora chrysophylla), alahe-e (Psydrax odorata), huehue (Cocculus orbiculatus), naio (Myoporum sandwicense), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), kulu-- (Nototrichium sandwicense), -ilima (Sida fallax), wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis), -iliahi (Santalum spp.), --lei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia), uhiuhi (Caesalpinia kavaiensis), kauila (Colubrina oppositifolia), ma-ola (Neraudia ovata), maiapilo (Capparis sandwichiana), Bidens micrantha ssp. ctenophylla, and -aiea (Nothocestrum breviflorum).There are 300 to 400 individuals remaining.It is an endangered species, threatened with habitat loss and modification.The flowers of this plant were used in leis and the wood in carvings.