Boehmeria grandis

Boehmeria grandis, commonly called ʻakolea, is a flowering species of the Urticaceae family that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.[2] ʻakolea can be found in mesic to wet forests across Hawaiʻi along streams, on ridges, and valley floors. Multiple sources have cited observations in Makaua Gulch on Oʻahu.[3]

Boehmeria grandis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Boehmeria
Species:
B. grandis
Binomial name
Boehmeria grandis
(Hook. & Arn.) A.Heller
Synonyms[1]
  • Urtica grandis (Hook. & Arn.)
  • Boehmeria amplissima (Blume)
  • Boehmeria stipularis (Wedd)
  • Ramium grande (Kuntze)

The ʻakolea can look like and be confused with its endemic counterpart Māmaki (Pipturus albidus) of the same family.[4] However, differences in ʻakolea's appearance come from its exerted stamens, the tightly grouped seeds on the branches of Māmaki, and subtle differences between the leaves of both that can be difficult to notice.

Ecosystem services

ʻakolea is one of the four endemic host plants for the pulelehua (Vanessa tameamea), meaning the pulelehua butterflies and caterpillars will only reproduce where these host plants are found.[5] Other pulelehua host plants include Māmaki, Olonā (Touchardia latifolia), and Ōpuhe (Urera glabra) and (U. kaalae).[5]

Caterpillar
Remnants of a Kamehameha butterfly (pulelehua) hook on ʻakolea

References
  1. "Boehmeria grandis (Hook. & Arn.) A.Heller | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  2. "Plants of Hawai'i | Bishop Museum". plantsofhawaii.org. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  3. "Hawaiian Native Plants, UH Botany". www.botany.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  4. "Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Pipturus albidus". nativeplants.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  5. "Host Plants". cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
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