Polyscias racemosa

Endemic

This tree is rarely spotted in the wild on Kaua‘i and is on the Federal endangered species list. It is in the Ginseng family, relatives to the ‘Olapa, ‘Ohe makai, and the non-native octopus tree.

Dr. George C. Munro (1866-1963), a manager of Molokaʻi Ranch, ornithologist and botanist, rediscovered this tree in the wild. Local natives did not recognize the tree at the time and so it was given a temporary name, Munriodendron, after dr. Munro. Since then the name Pōkalakala has arised. This tree is a reminder that if we loose touch with our surroundings and cultural practices we can loose species and even cultural concepts forever.

In modern times, people find the berries make a nice purple dye.

Common names: False ‘ohe, Munroidendron