Hawaiian Name(s): kōpiko, kōpiko ula (P. hawaiiensis), ‘ōpiko (P. hawaiiensis, P. mauiensis), kōpiko kea (P. kaduana)

Scientific Name: Psychotria (11 species)

Vernacular Name: none

Family: Rubiaceae

Status: endemic

Authority: P. fauriei (H.Lev.) Fosberg, P. grandiflora H.Mann, P. greenwelliae Fosberg, P. hathewayi Fosberg, P. hawaiiensis (A.Gray) Fosberg, P. hexandra H.Mann, P. hobdyi Sohmer, P. kaduana (Cham. & Sclechtend.) Fosberg, P. mariniana (Cham. & Schlechtend.) Fosberg, P. mauiensis Fosberg, P. wawrae Sohmer

Description: Trees/shrubs.

Habitat P. fauriei windswept summits (450–) 520–860 m (O‘ahu), P. grandiflora mesic to wet forest 1040–1230 m (Kaua‘i), P. greenwelliae mesic to wet forest 610–1280 m (Kaua‘i), P. hathewayi mesic to dry forest 360–940 m (O‘ahu), P. hawaiiensis wet forest (occasionally dry to mesic forest) (50–) 150–1590 m (Hawai‘i, Moloka‘i, Maui), P. hexandra mesic to wet forest 360–1250 m (Kaua‘i, O‘ahu), P. hobdyi mesic forest 600–610 m (Kaua‘i), P. kaduana mesic valleys, mesic and wet forests (15–) 180–1220 m (most main islands), P. mariniana mesic to wet forest (60–) 180–1220 m (most main islands), P. mauiensis mesic to wet forest 215–1470 m (most main islands), P. wawrae mesic forest 120–850 m (Kaua‘i) (Wagner et al. 1990:1163–1170).

Medicines:

Non Medicinal Uses: Wood used for kua kukukapa (kapa anvil) and for fuel (Malo 1951:21). In the Ethnology Collection at Bishop Museum there is a post-contact example of the wood made into a bowl.

Specific gravity of wood: unknown

Famous Locations:

Mele:

`Ōlelo Noeau: Ke kōpiko i ka piko o Wai‘ale‘ale. A kōpiko tree on the summit of Wai‘ale‘ale.

Dye Color and Parts:

Kino lau:

Location on Bishop Museum Kalihi Campus:

Propagation Information: Intermediate. Grown from seeds, scarification not necessary. Quick to sprout, but slow to grow. Repot at about 6 months (Culliney and Koebele 1999:96–98).
Native Plants Hawaii.

Seed: Seed length approximately 3 mm. Photograph: B.Kennedy. Species: P. hawaiiensis.
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Microscopy
Cross Section: Field of view: 2.6 mm x 1.6 mm. Photograph: H.Lennstrom. Species: P. hawaiiensis.
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Radial Section: Field of view: 2.6 mm x 1.6 mm. Photograph: H.Lennstrom. Species: P. hawaiiensis.
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Tangential Section: Field of view: 2.6 mm x 1.6 mm. Photograph: H.Lennstrom. Species: P. hawaiiensis.
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