mehamehame

Flueggea neowawraea W.J.Hayden

Flueggea neowawraea, known as mehamehame, is a flowering tree in the Phyllanthaceae family and is endemic to Hawaii. It grows in dry, coastal mesic, and mixed mesic forests at elevations between 250 and 1,000 m. This species is the only native Flueggea in the Hawaiian Islands. It can reach heights of 30 m with a trunk diameter of 2 m, making it one of the largest trees in Hawaii. The wood is extremely hard and was historically used by Native Hawaiians for weaponry.

Description

Flueggea neowawraea is found in association with other native species such as kukui, hame, ʻahakea, alaheʻe, olopua, hao, and aʻiaʻi. The species was first described in 1987 by W.J. Hayden. Its distribution is limited to Hawaii, and it is not found naturally outside this region. The tree's size and dense wood made it an important resource for traditional Hawaiian tools and weapons.