Opuhe

Description

Urera kaalae, opuhe, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family, Urticaceae, that is endemic to the island of O-ahu in Hawaii. It inhabits slopes and gulches in mesic forests at elevations of 300-760 m (980-2,490 ft). Currently it is restricted to the southern and central parts of the Wai-anae Mountains. Associated plants include maile (Alyxia oliviformis), hame (Antidesma platyphyllum), Asplenium kaulfusii, Athyrium spp., --wikiwiki (Canavalia spp.), p-pala (Charpentiera spp.), -akoko (Euphorbia spp.), po-ol- (Claoxylon sandwicense), -lama (Diospyros hillebrandii), Doryopteris spp., -ie-i.e. (Freycinetia arborea), manono (Hedyotis acuminata), Hibiscus spp., olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), m-maki (Pipturus albidus), hala pepe (Pleomele spp.), --la-a (Pouteria sandwicensis), k-piko (Psychotria spp.), heuhiuhi (Senna gaudichaudii), a-ia-i (Streblus pendulinus), -puhe (Urera glabra), and maua (Xylosma hawaiiense). It is threatened by habitat loss.