Ohi'a Lehua

Description:

From shrubby scrawly looking trees to full majestic trees with usually red blossoms (Lehua).

Habitat:

Lava flows, rainforest, Cloud forest

Notes:

Its evolutionary ancestor came from New Zealand (Pohutukawa). This amazing resilient plant has adapted to live in nearly all climates in Hawaii, from rugged lava flows (pioneer Species) to rainforests to cloud forests. It has amazing red aerial roots. There is genetic variations causing different colored flowers, from Red to Orange to Yellow, some even White. The Liko (Bud) of the blossoms is often used in haku lei and for Hawaiian wreaths. Although legend says that picking lehua blossoms will bring the rain.....