Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Oahu False Ohelo is a shrub growing up to 5 feet tall. In cultivation, it generally grows about 3 feet tall and can get up to 10 feet in diameter. 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 1 inch 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 you try to break them. Oahu False Ohelo flowers irregularly throughout the year, but produces fewer flowers when the plant has mature fruit. The tubular yellow to yellow-green flowers are unisexual, either male or female, and less than 1/2 inch long.
(Criley, Richard A. 1998. Propagation of Indigenous and Endemic Ornamental Hawaiian Plants.)
(Rauch, Fred D., and David Hensley. 1997. 'Akia, Ornamentals and Flowers.)
(Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i.)

Hawaiian medicinal uses are as laxative and for treatment of asthma. Possible anti-tumor activity. (Future scientific research required)
No part of the plant has been found to be poisonous to mammals.
(NTBG Internal Notes. 2003.)

In Hawaii this species was used to stupify fish during fishing season. Also, it has been used in combination with other species to poison criminals.
(NTBG Internal Notes. 2003.)

Oahu False Ohelo is used in Hawaii as landscape specimen and for making beautiful leis from flowers or from seeds.


(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

There are 12 Wikstroemia species endemic to the Hawaiian islands. Wikstroemia oahuensis occurs in scattered populations on windy coastal locations, dry ridges, open hillsides, ledges,lava, and other dry, open habitats from 10 to 1,400 feet on O'ahu.
(Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i.)

Wikstroemia oahuensis is endemic to Oahu, Hawaii.
(Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i.)

We currently have 56 herbarium specimens for Wikstroemia oahuensis in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 020429 - collected by Thomas B. Croat in 1978
• 046571 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1982
• 046572 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1982
• 046570 - collected by T. G. Lammers in 1984
• 046569 - collected by T. G. Lammers in 1984
• 020430 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 020431 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 046568 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• Unassigned - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
• 018623 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
• 046567 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 009856 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 009854 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 036312 - collected by Hans T. Beck in 1990
• 013656 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 011510 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 010724 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 011939 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 012589 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 017712 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1992
• 015072 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1993
• 036434 - collected by J. Regalado in 1993
• 028504 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1996
• 022637 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1997
• 022636 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1997
• 022624 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1997
• 040710 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1997
• 076154 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1999
• 032467 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2000
• 056330 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2004
• 046028 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
• Unassigned - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
• 055133 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
• 049425 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2006
• 049033 - collected by Clay Trauernicht in 2008
• 064079 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2008
• 068921 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2009
• 051944 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2010
• 076628 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
• 061157 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
• Unassigned - collected by Steve Perlman in 2011
• 060461 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
• Unassigned - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2012
• 066800 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2012
• 068500 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2012
• 065646 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2012
• 079609 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2013
• Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• Unassigned - collected by Jesse Adams in 2014
• 078591 - collected by Dustin Wolkis in 2018
• 088080 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2021
• 087293 - collected by Louise Winther in 2021
• 087292 - collected by Louise Winther in 2021
• 091966 - collected by KPEPP in 2023
• Unassigned - collected by Susan Fawcett in 2024
• Unassigned - collected by Susan Fawcett in 2024