Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_piper_methysticum
Kava
Piper methysticum
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About Kava
ʻawa is a shrub in the Kauaʻi vascular and land plants group. Its origin status is polynesian introduction.
Kauaʻi evidence
Species identity and image source are documented. Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Piper methysticum
- Common names
- Kava
- Hawaiian names
- ʻawa
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Documented on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Polynesian introduction
- Conservation status
- Conservation priority; formal rank not listed
- Evidence date
- 2026-09-13
- Evidence limits
- No major occurrence uncertainty noted
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Cultivated wet/mesic cultural gardens
- 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
- Shrub
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Cultivar loss, disease, loss of practice
- Conservation actions
- Cultural garden/cultivar documentation
- Monitoring
- Cultural garden/cultivar documentation
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- ʻawa is a shrub in the Kauaʻi vascular and land plants group. Its origin status is polynesian introduction.
