Chenopodium oahuense

Chenopodium oahuense

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Subfamily: Chenopodioideae
Genus: Chenopodium
Species: C. oahuense
Binomial name
Chenopodium oahuense
(Meyen) Aellen

Chenopodium oahuense is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common names aweoweo, alaweo, alaweo huna, aheahea, ahea, ahewahewa, and kahaihai.[1] It is endemic to Hawaii, where it occurs on all of the larger islands except for Kahoolawe. It is also found on Lisianski Island, Laysan, the French Frigate Shoals, Necker Island, and Nihoa.[2]

This species is a shrub that can reach 5 to 20 meters in height. The fleshy, lightly hairy leaf blades have three lobes. The inflorescence is a panicle of small flowers.[1]

This plant can be used for Hawaiian ecosystem restoration and erosion control. Sooty terns and red-footed boobies use this plant as nesting material. The Hawaiian people used the wood of this plant to make shark hooks, and the cooked leaves were eaten like spinach.[1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Chenopodium oahuense. USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet.
  2. Chenopodium oahuense. NatureServe.
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