Styphelia,Tameiameiae
Epacridaceae

The Pukiawe is a native woody shrub or small tree like plant. It has short leaves with tiny rigid flowers with bright white, pink, and dark red fruits. The Pukiawe flower was used for cremating dead bodies. . The Pukiawe flower can be found up mountain slopes higher than 10,000 feet, on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, and on Marquesas Islands. This flower was also used for lei making. The chief would be marked with the soot of burnt Pukiawe wood so he could mingle with the people without contaminating them or being contaminated by their mana.

Status: Indigenous
Environs:
Population: Common

Researcher:Danielle Holbron Period 4