Hawai'i pokeweed
Phytolacca sandwicensis Endl.
Phytolacca sandwicensis, known as Hawai'i pokeweed, is a flowering plant species in the Phytolaccaceae family. It is native to the Hawaiian Islands, where it occurs on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. The plant is locally called pōpolo kū mai and/or pōpolo, a term that can also refer to species in the genus Solanum due to the similar appearance of their berries.
Description
Phytolacca sandwicensis is a fruit-bearing plant endemic to Hawaii. It belongs to the genus Phytolacca and is part of the Phytolaccaceae family. The species was first described in 1836 by Endl. It is distributed across several major Hawaiian islands and is recognized for its berries, which resemble those of certain Solanum species, leading to its local name pōpolo. This name is used more broadly for plants with similar fruit characteristics.
Other common names
Hawai'i pokeweed
Distribution
Hawaii
