<p>Kōlea lau nui
Primulaceae
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands
Oʻahu (Cultivated)
</p><p>Early Hawaiians used the strong wood for posts, gunwales for canoes, and beams in hale construction as well as to make anvils for beating kapa (tapa).
The pinkish bark produces a red sap was used to make red dye and the wood charcoal to make black dye.
The bark, leaves, and flowers of kōlea (Mysine spp.) were used medicinally to treat pāʻaoʻao (childhood disease, with physical weakening) and ʻea (thrush).
</p><p>NPH00001
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Myrsine_lessertiana">nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Myrsine_lessertiana</a>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/50823119@N08">David  Eickhoff</a> from Pearl City, Hawaii, USA
CC BY 2.0
<p><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5188325940/">Myrsine lessertiana</a>
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<ul><li>Uploaded by <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Tim1357" title="User:Tim1357">Tim1357</a></li></ul>