Kiele (Gardenia or Tiare)

Description:

The Tiare plant is an evergreen shrub that grows to nearly 4m tall, leaves are placed on opposite sides of the plant's stem. The flowers generally posses 5 to 9 "lobes", "creamy-white" and very fragrent. Leaves are a range of greens and have a glossy cover. The Gardenia taitensis has a great number of uses, it can be used as a shampoo for damaged hair or cosmetic oils such as body lotions.

Habitat:

This specific organism was found on Luawainui St, Makakilo in a backyard environment. Beside this plant were an array of other small bushes and pond-life. This bush was planted in red-dirt and later covered with cinders.

Notes:

The Tiare is indigenous to the upland Melanisia and Polynesia regions. It was introduced to French Polynesia, Hawaii and the Cook Islands and is considered aboriginal. The gardenia is the national flower of the Cook Islands and of French Polynesia.