Wikstroemia oahuensis


Wikstroemia oahuensis, the Ākia or Oahu false ohelo, is a species of flowering shrub in the mezereon family, Thymelaeaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii.

Description

In the wild, ākia can grow to tall, but in cultivation it usually reaches with a diameter of. The young branches are gray, yellow, or reddish brown. The leaves grow with two leaves opposite each other on the branch, overlapping, and are dark green or grayish on the upper surface and lighter green underneath. They are oval to round and usually under long. This species is highly variable, with the leaves ranging from large and long to small and round. The stems do not snap but peel when bent. It flowers irregularly throughout the year, but produces fewer flowers when the plant has mature fruit. The tubular yellow to yellow-green flowers may be perfect or unisexual, and less than long. The dwarf bog form from Kauai is sometimes recognized as a separate species, W. palustris.

Distribution

There are 12 Wikstroemia species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Wikstroemia oahuensis is a relatively common plant in a wide variety of habitats on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lānai, and Maui. It inhabits ridges and rocky areas, hala forest, mesic forest, wet forest, and bogs at elevations of.

Ecology

The bacteria species Flavobacterium akiainvivens was originally isolated from rotting ākia wood, and the shrub lends it its name.

Uses

Toxicity

used this species to stupefy fish. A poison made from ākia in combination with other plants was used to execute criminals.

Medicinal

Hawaiian medicinal uses are as a laxative and for treatment of asthma. Possible anti-tumor activity.

Other

Ākia is used in Hawaii as landscape specimen. Seeds and flowers are used to make beautiful lei.