Metrosideros polymorpha is an extremely variable plant. It ranges in habit from a prostrate shrub to a 30 m tall tree. Young bark is smooth and light gray and becomes rough and scaly with age. In the landscape or garden, Metrosideros polymorpha is generally no larger than 12 m tall with a 10 m wide canopy. The leaves are generally oval in shape ranging in size from 1 to 8 cm long and 1 to 5.5 cm wide. The mature leaves are generally leathery and smooth dark green, but some forms are woolly or hairy underneath and may appear grayish. The leaf buds (liko) can range in color from pale green to pink to red. Metrosideros polymorpha blooms mostly in the spring, but can bloom sporadically throughout the year. Weissich notes that there can be as many as 3 blooming periods per year. The powder puff-like flowers are composed of numerous stamen, 1 to 3 cm long, and most often a shade of red, but yellow, orange, salmon, and pink forms are also found. The tiny seeds of Metrosideros polymorpha are contained in a cup-like capsule about 1/2 cm in diameter. The capsule turns brown as the seeds mature. There are eight recognized varieties of Metrosideros polymorpha in the Hawaiian Islands. (Wagner,W.L.,Herbst,D.R.,Sohmer,S.H. 1990. Manual of Flowering Plants of Hawai'i) (Criley.1999; NTBG.1996; Rauch.1997; Weissich.1995.)
The flower of 'Ohi'a Lehua is used to ease childbirth and leaf buds tea is used as a tonic and to treat colds. (Kaaiakamanu, D. M. and Akina, J.K. 1922. Hawaiian Herbs of Medicinal Value)
In ancient Hawaii 'Ohi'a was primarily used for carving temple images, enclosures and war-gods called Kukailimoku. (Kepler, A.K. 1984. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)
Metrosideros polymorpha is a Hawaiian endemic plant. Forms of Metrosideros polymorpha are found in almost all Hawaiian ecosystems ranging from lowland dry shrub lands to rain forests, from high elevation bogs to dry lava flows. It grows from near sea level to 2,200 meters and is found on all the main islands except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe. (Wagner, L. W., Herbst, D. R., Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of the the Flowering Plants of Hawai`i)
'Ohi'a Lehua provides valuable watershed protection in Hawaii. It is also an important source of nectar and insect prey of most native birds. Among these birds are some endangered species, the Akepa(Loxops coccinea), the endemic Crested Honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei), and several other species of Honeycreepers (Hemignathus). (Balakrishnan, N. and Mueller-Dombois, D. 1983. Nutrient studies in relation to habitat types and canopy dieback in the montane rain forest ecosystem, Island of Hawai'i. Pacific Science.) (Hodges, C. S., Adee, K.T. Stein, J.D. Wood, H. B. and Doty, R. D.1986. Decline of ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) in Hawaii: a review. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report PSW-86. Pacific Southwest Forest and Ran Experiment Station.)
Today, 'Ohia Lehua is the offical flower for the island of Hawai`i. In ancient times, the upper elevation Hawaiian forests were sacred and 'Ohi'a Lehua was in particular a very special tree, being considerate abode of the great and powerful gods of creation, Ku and Kane. Originally no commoner would dare to desecrate a branch or even pick a flower without first obtaining permission from the appropriate gods, goddesses and village chiefs. Associated with the sanctity surrounding 'Ohi'a emerges another symbolic association, important in Hawaiian poetry: Love....a grand love for nature, a binding love for family and friends. Love is still symbolized today in the exchange or giving of leis. Scarlet Lehua leis, often interwoven with ferns and gardenia, are very special leis, especially on the Big Island, where Lehua is the "Island Flower". Metrosideros polymorpha, 'Ohi'a Lehua is an extremely variable plant, since the Latin name "polymorpha" meaning "many forms". (Kepler, A.K. 1984. Hawaiian Heritage Plants.)
We currently have 73 herbarium specimens for Metrosideros polymorpha in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
