Koki`o / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Koki`o (Kokia drynarioides)

Full view of mature specimen. Photo Credit: Peter Van Dyke ©
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Malvaceae
  • State: HI
  • Nature Serve ID: 128783
  • Lifeform: Shrub, Tree
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

The Hawaii tree cotton is one of four species in the genus Kokia and the only one found on the island of Hawaii. The sap of this incredibly rare tree has been used by native Hawaiians to make red dyes for fishnets and its bark was used to treat thrush. In the early 1900's, botanists became concerned about the survival of this species and collected several pounds of seed that was later distributed to various gardens and arboreta for germination. (USFWS 1994) Despite this, koki'o has become increasingly rare so that there are now less than ten trees known to exist in the wild. This decline has had severe impacts on organisms that rely on the species, such as the now- endangered nectar drinking honeycreepers which depend on these trees for food. (PIRG 1998)

Where is Koki`o (Kokia drynarioides) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Native dry forests on the island of Hawaii that occur on rough lava with a thin, highly drained soil layer at elevations of 455 to 1915 meters. (USFWS 1994) Associated species include: Chenopodium oahuensse, Dodonaea viscose, Dracaena hawaiiensis, Erythrina sandwicensis, Mezoneuron kavaiense, Myrsine lanaiensis, Nothocestrum latifolium, Pennisetum setaceum, Nototrichium sandwicense, Planchonella auahiensis, Reynoldsia sandwicensis, Sophora chrysophylla, and Xylosma hawaiiense var. hillebrandii. (USFWS 1994)

Distribution:

Endemic to the leeward side of the island of Hawaii. (USFWS 1994)

States & Provinces:

Koki`o can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Koki`o (Kokia drynarioides)?

  • San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

    Not Sponsored
    Assigned 06/19/17

  • Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add
    Donor Acknowledgment - In the Works
    Assigned 02/12/19

  • The Huntington

    Not Sponsored
    Assigned 10/30/23
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Endemic to the leeward side of the island of Hawaii. The number of wild trees of this species is down to fewer than 10. Perhaps the biggest threat to the survival of the species has been the invasion of its habitat by alien fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum), which has contributed to an increase in the size and frequency of wildfires in the region. Other threats include feral goats and grazing by cattle.

    • 01/01/2010

    As stated by the USFWS recovery plan (1994), threats include: Cattle browsing and trampling Rodent seed predation Competition with invading exotic species, especially fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum), which has contributed to an increase in the s

    • 01/01/2010

    There are less than ten trees left in the wild in three small populations. (PIRG 1998)

    • 01/01/2010

    None known.

    • 01/01/2010

    This species is cultivated by a number of gardens and arboreta in Hawaii.

    • 01/01/2010

    Acquire management rights for lands essential to the continued existence of the species Terminate grazing leases on this land and remove livestock from it Fence the area to protect the trees from neighboring domestic and feral animals Initiate and maintain controls for the insects and rodents that eat t the seeds Remove fountain grass Monitor the population

    • 01/01/2010

    Maintain a cultivated population to preserve the existing gene pool Seed bank seeds Artificially propagate trees for reintroduction programs

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Kokia drynarioides
    Authority (Seem.) Lewton
    Family Malvaceae
    CPC Number 2386
    ITIS 21976
    USDA KODR
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names hau Hele'ula | Hawaiian tree Cotton | koki'o | hau-hele'ula | Hawai'i treecotton
    Associated Scientific Names Kokia drynarioides | Kokia rockii
    Distribution Endemic to the leeward side of the island of Hawaii. (USFWS 1994)
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Hawaii S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Full view of mature specimen. Photo Credit: Peter Van Dyke ©

    Closeup of scarlet flower. Note the length of the staminal column. Photo Credit: Peter Van Dyke ©

    Hawaiian name is from hau, an introduced hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus), perhaps by early Hawaiians. Hau hele ʻula literally means "red traveling hau." The early Hawaiians cultivated this species in Kona. The flower petals were used to make pink and lavender dyes. Sap from the bark produced a dark red waterproof dye for fishnets. The dual-purpose resinous dye would extend the life of the fishing nets and the red color underwater is nearly invisible to fish, thus the fishermen would catch more. The spectacular flowers were used for lei. Medicinally, the bark was also used to cure thrush. Photo Credit: David Eickhoff © 2008

    Hawaiian name is from hau, an introduced hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus), perhaps by early Hawaiians. Hau hele ʻula literally means "red traveling hau." The early Hawaiians cultivated this species in Kona. The flower petals were used to make pink and lavender dyes. Sap from the bark produced a dark red waterproof dye for fishnets. The dual-purpose resinous dye would extend the life of the fishing nets and the red color underwater is nearly invisible to fish, thus the fishermen would catch more. The spectacular flowers were used for lei. Medicinally, the bark was also used to cure thrush. Photo Credit: David Eickhoff © 2008
    Reintroduction
    Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
    Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife Hawaii Reintroduction 2004
    Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife Hawaii Reintroduction 2006
    Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife Hawaii Reintroduction 2015

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