Scientific Name: Coprosma ernodeoides

Common Names: 'Aiakanene

Description

Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands
Haleakal? National Park, East Maui

Early Hawaiians made a yellow dye from the inner bark and the fruits were used to make a dark purple or black dye.

The leaves flowers and black fruits were also strung on lei.

The genus name Coprosma means "smelling like dung." By coincidence, the Hawaiian name k?kaen?n? literally means "n?n? dung." This refers not to the smell but to the dung-like appearance of the dark fruits, which do in fact resemble n?n? droppings (k?kae). Nevertheless, n?n? (Branta sandvicensis), or Hawaiian goose, do eat the fruits as part of their natural diet. So then, one might say that when k?kaen?n? is eaten by n?n? and they deposit their k?kae, k?kaen?n? is spread throughout the n?n? habitat!

Intrestingly, another name for Coprosma ernodeoides is ?aiakan?n?, literally meaning "food of the n?n?."

Duration: Perennial

Plant Family: Rubiaceae

Growth Habit: Shrub