Abutilon menziesii (5094505672) (2)

Description:

Description: Koʻoloa ʻula Malvaceae (Mallow family) Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, Maui, Hawaiʻi) IUCN: Critically Endangered Oʻahu (Cultivated) A rare blond or butter colored form of koʻoloa ʻula.* Abutilon menziesii is known from 10 sub-populations on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi and Oʻahu, with a total population size of 450-500 individuals. Early Hawaiians used the flowers in lei making. The juice of the red blossoms was used as a laxative. Etymology The generic name Abutilon is derived from the Arabic awbūtīlūn (’abū ṭīlūn), for malvaceous (mallow-like) plants. The species epithet menziesii refers to Archibald Menzies (1754-1842) a Scottish surgeon and naturalist, and the first to taxonomically identify the species. _____ Koʻoloa ʻula. Although the Hawaiian name ʻula refers to the more commonly seen red (ʻula) color, koʻoloa ʻula flowers are known in a range of colors: pink, pink and white, pale red, maroon, deep purplish-red (wine), salmon, and blond or butter. NPH0008 nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Abutilon_menziesii. Date: 27 December 2004, 23:51. Source: Abutilon menziesii. Author: David Eickhoff from Hawaiʻi, USA.