Nehe, (English: shrubland nehe)Asteraceae (Sunflower family)Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Niihau, Oahu, West Maui)Photo: Oahu (Cultivated)Note: The twenty or so species formerly divided into the genera Lipochaeta and Melanthera have now all returned to the Hawaiian endemic genus Lipochaeta.Early Hawaiian UseOne older source (Charles Gaudichaud, 1819) states that Hawaiians "used all fragrant plants, all flowers and even colored fruits" for lei making. The red or yellow were indicative of divine and chiefly rank; the purple flowers and fruit, or with fragrance, were associated with divinity. Because of their long-standing place in oral tradition, the flowers of nehe were likely used for lei making by early Hawaiians, even though there are no written sources.Nehe flowers continue to be used in lei making.EtymologyThe generic name Lipochaeta is derived from the Greek lipo, fat, and chaeta, bristles or hairs.The specific epithet lobata means lobed.Found at slightly higher elevations, this species should not be confused with the "beach" species Lipochaeta integrifolia, which grows prostrate or nearly so in the same general area and has succulent roundish- or oval-leaves.
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