Family: OCHNACEAE
Genus: Ochna
Species: kirkii
Species Author: Oliv.
Micky Mouse Plant is a shrub to 2 m high (6 1/2 ft) or more. The leaves are simple, alternate, blade elliptic, 3-12 cm long (1 1/4-5 in), labrous, with bristle-toothed margins. The shrub flowers intermittently during
the year. Flowers are several, borne in axillary and terminal clusters with corolla of five free, obovate, yellow petals 1.8-2.5 cm long (3/4-1 in), with many yellow stamens in the center. The fruit is composed of one to five black ovoid drupelets 7-10 mm long (1/4-3/8 in)borne on a fleshy red disk around the long, red style, with a red, persistent calyx.
(Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamenatals.)
(Wagner, W.L., D.R. Herbst, and S.H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i.)
Management Recommendations:
Ochna species are widely cultivated in Hawai'i as ornamental garden plants. Two species, Ochna serrulata and Ochna kirkii frequently volunteer near homes and gardens as well as disturbed mesic forests nearby plantings. On Maui, O. serrulata volunteers near plantings and O. kirkii is naturalized on both West and East Maui. Ochna species are popular garden ornamentals and have already been planted in numerous
neighborhoods. The public could be discouraged from future plantings, especially near natural areas. Natural area managers should become familiar with Ochna species so that they can be detected and controlled as early as possible to prevent large infestations.
(Forest Starr, Kim Starr, and Lloyd Loope. 2003. United States Geological Survey--Biological Resources Division, Haleakala Field Station, Maui, Hawai'i.)
Ochna kirkii are cultivated in Hawai'i for their colorful flowers and unusual fruits. On Maui, Ochna species are commonly seen in gardens as specimen plants or as hedges in residential and urban areas.
(Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamenatals.)
(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)
Ochna kirkii is native to southeastern Africa.
(Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamenatals.)
The common name, Mickey Mouse Plant, is derived from the large drupelet fruits that look like mouse ears.
(Whistler, W.A. 2000. Tropical Ornamenatals.)
Ochna kirkii spreads from initial plantings via bird dispersed fruits
and is naturalized in lowland disturbed mesic forests in at least Hawai'i.
(Herbarium Pacificum Staff. 1998. New Hawaiian plant records for 1997.)
