Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_metrosideros_polymorpha
ʻohiʻa lehua
Metrosideros polymorpha
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About ʻohiʻa lehua
ʻohiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Extremely variable plant ranging from a prostrate shrub to a tall tree, with bark usually rough, fissured and flaking, though sometimes smooth and peeling in strips.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomy, nativity, island-level occurrence, growth form, names, and source conservation assessments are documented in the 2026 census audit. Broader ecology and conservation recommendations still require claim-level source review. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Metrosideros polymorpha
- Common names
- ohia lehua
- Hawaiian names
- ʻŌhiʻa lehua · Lehua · ʻŌhiʻa
- Other names
- ʻŌhiʻa lehua · Metrosideros polymorpha · Metrosideros collina var. glaberrima · Metrosideros collina var. glabrifolia · Metrosideros collina var. haleakalensis · Metrosideros collina var. hemilanata · Metrosideros collina var. parvifolia · Metrosideros collina f. sericea · Metrosideros polymorpha f. calva · Metrosideros polymorpha subsp. glaberrima · Metrosideros polymorpha subsp. glabrifolia · Metrosideros polymorpha var. glabrifolia · Metrosideros polymorpha var. haleakalensis · Metrosideros polymorpha var. hemilanata · Metrosideros polymorpha f. obovata · Metrosideros polymorpha var. parviflora · Metrosideros polymorpha f. psilophylla · Metrosideros polymorpha f. sericea · Metrosideros polymorpha var. sericea · Nania glabrifolia · Nania macropus var. microphylla · Nania polymorpha var. glaberrima · Nania polymorpha var. sessilis · Metrosideros collina var. imbricata · Metrosideros collina var. incana · Metrosideros collina f. lurida · Metrosideros collina var. lutea · Metrosideros lutea · Metrosideros polymorpha subsp. imbricata · Metrosideros polymorpha var. imbricata · Metrosideros polymorpha subsp. incana · Metrosideros polymorpha f. lurida · Metrosideros polymorpha var. subimbricata · Nania lutea · Nania polymorpha var. incana · Metrosideros collina var. macrophylla · Metrosideros collina var. newellii · Metrosideros collina var. oahuensis · Metrosideros collina subsp. polymorpha · Metrosideros collina f. strigosa · Metrosideros polymorpha var. macrostemon · Metrosideros polymorpha f. strigosa · Metrosideros polymorpha f. pseudorugosa · Metrosideros collina var. prostrata · Metrosideros collina var. pumila · Metrosideros polymorpha f. perglabra · Metrosideros polymorpha subsp. pumila · Metrosideros pumila · Metrosideros pumila var. makanoiensis · Metrosideros pumila var. mauiensis · Metrosideros pumila var. rockii · Nania pumila · Lehua · ʻŌhiʻa
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessment: Apparently Secure; U.S. source status: No Status
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld. Growth-form tags describe the taxon across its range, not a measured Kauaʻi population. Checklist source statuses are not a new legal-status determination.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Wet forest · Mesic forest · Bog margin · Lava substrate · Montane forest
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree; Shrub
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Rapid Ohia Death, ungulates, invasive plants, drought, fire, climate stress
- Conservation actions
- Biosecurity, sanitation, monitoring, fencing, invasive control, restoration planting
- Monitoring
- Biosecurity, sanitation, monitoring, fencing, invasive control, restoration planting
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- ʻohiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Extremely variable plant ranging from a prostrate shrub to a tall tree, with bark usually rough, fissured and flaking, though sometimes smooth and peeling in strips.
