Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, July 10, 2023

KAʻŪ'S NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH IS ʻILIMA. The column by Jody Rosam with illustration by Joan Yoshika is called Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū and explores Kaʻū’s native plants and their
moʻolelo (stories), uses, preferred habitats, and opportunities to adopt them for stewardship. The author and artist say, this column seeks to encourage making new plant friends and to reunite with others.
    Description:ʻIlima, ʻIlima, Sida fallax, is one of Hawaiʻi’s marvelous Malvaceae, and the only species in the Sida genus native to Hawaiʻi (although it is not endemic; it is found elsewhere in the world). ʻIlima leaves range from less than 1” long to over 5”, and can be light or dark green, or even silvery in color, and while they can be smooth, they are usually very soft and sweetly fuzzy.
    The delicate ʻilima flower is the official flower of the island of Oʻahu. They are referred to by different adjectives including kaukea (light yellow), melemele (strong yellow), ʻilima lei (deep gold), ʻilima ʻulaʻula (bronze red), and kolī kukui (rusty red). They bloom year round, and the flowers open fully by midday and only last about 24 hours.
    Once pollinated (often by the native nalo meli maoli or yellow-faced bee), they give way to small tan seeds which are readily dispersed by the wind. Early Hawaiians recognized and named many wild forms of ʻilima, including ʻilima kū kahakai a.k.a. ʻilima papa (a flat coastal form), ʻilima kū kula (a tall form), ʻilima kuahiwi (from the mountains), and ʻilima makanaʻā (a plant with smaller flowers, medium in height, and found on old lava flows in Kaʻū).
    Uses: Ola no i ka pua o ka ʻilima (there is healing in the ʻilima blossoms; ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #2489).
You guessed it! ʻIlima is a very useful plant. Medicinally, pua ʻilima (ʻilima flowers) were given to young babies as a pleasant-tasting and mild laxative, and also to help women during pregnancy. The root bark and flowers are helpful to those suffering from asthma, and when mixed with other plants, can be consumed as a tonic to revitalize energy. ʻIlima was used in house furnishings (and to some degree, construction), and even used as a layer in imu to prevent the food from being burned by the hot stones. ʻIlima was one of the few plants cultivated by Kānaka Maoli specifically for lei making. Pua ʻilima make a treasured lei poʻo (around the head) and lei ʻāʻī (around the neck) - but both require a lot of flowers to make! The flowers are edible and taste delicately sweet - I recommend sprinkling some on top of a fresh salad or even a cake as a native plant bonus to your meals.
    Habitat:ʻIlima grows across all of Hawaiʻi Nei, and can be found from sea level to over 6,000’

 elevation. They can be found growing on rocky or sandy coastlines, lava fields, dry forests, and even in mesic forests, with different forms found in different environments. They are even a prominent part of the flora of Pihemanu (Midway) and Moku Manu (Nīhoa). Pollen records indicate that they were plentiful on Kamole a.k.a. Kauō (Laysan). In Kaʻū, you can find ʻilima along the coast and in the lowlands. Learn to recognize them, and you will quickly realize how plentiful they are in your neck of the woods.
    Growing and Purchasing:ʻIlima are often sold at local big box stores (and of course, you can contact the author for plants, too), so no excuses - go get yourself a couple! Just one plant will continue to provide lovely flowers and an abundance of seeds for you to propagate. Propagation is easy (and usually happens without any intervention): simply remove the seeds from the capsule and place them in a moist but well-drained media and sit tight! Germination is variable (so is viability), but with plenty of seeds to sow, ʻilima keiki should begin to germinate within a couple of weeks. Plant them in a sunny spot that won’t get too wet (they are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered). Prune them as needed (though not necessary), and enjoy the sweetness that ʻilima provides!