Thespesia populnea

Description:

Milo or Portia treeMalvaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsOahu (Cultivated)The beautiful wood was prized by early Hawaiians second only to kou, to make food bowls (umeke milo), poi calabashes, platters (p milo), and dishes because the wood gave no unpleasant taste to the food like some other native woods, such as koa.The bark was used as cordage.The fruits produce a yellowish green dye, medicine, oil, and gum, and the yellow flowers were used by lei makers.Early Hawaiians found young milo leaves, flowers, and flower buds to be edible.Milo was considered a sacred tree and the use prohibited by commoners. The house of King Kamehameha I in Waikk was surrounded by milo.Polynesian Names:Amae (Societies); Makoi (Rapa Nui); Milo (Futuna, Hawaii, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uvea); Mio (Marquesas); Miro (Cooks, Mangareva, Pitcairn, Societies); Mulomulo (Fiji)NPH00004nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Thespesia_populnea