Mamaki

Hey there! I’m Mamaki, or Waimea pipturus in english. I’m a small tree/large shrub endemic to Hawaii and am part of the nettle family. I live a fast paced lifestyle and am looking for someone who can keep up with me and appreciate everything I bring to native ecosystems <33

About me: 

I usually grow to between 10 and 30 ft tall, and I have light green, rough textured leaves with pink/red colored veins. I can also bear hundreds of white fruit at a time.

I grow very quickly, typically 10-15 ft in just the first year, but I have a relatively short life span. I have a high germination rate and high mortality rate, and tend to be very delicate when I’m young, before I get the chance to develop a strong root system. 

Where I live:

• I only live in Hawaii, on all the islands except Niihao and Kahoolawa

• I can be found in forests at elevations of 200-6,000 ft

• I grow best in some shade and with moist, fertile soil, but can also do just fine in the sun as long as I have enough water

What I do:

• I’m important to young native forests because, since I grow so quickly, I can provide the shade needed for other plants to develop

• I often have a fair bit of dieback, which helps feed the forest and gives other living things the nutrients and/or place to grow

• I host caterpillars for the 2 butterfly species native to Hawaii: the Kamehameha butterfly and Blackburn’s blue butterfly

• In traditional Hawaiian culture, my fruit is used in treatments for illnesses, my bark fiber makes kapa and rope, and my leaves are combined with hot stones and spring water to make herbal tea