Thespesia populnea -- Milo
Thespesia populnea -- Milo
Milo is a small to medium sized tree. The wood is reddish brown with a beautiful grain. Leaves are heart-shaped and glossy green. Flowers are like small yellow hibiscus, looking very much like hau flowers. Mature fruits are globular, flattened and dark brown. The fruit never splits open, but eventually rots, releasing the seeds.
One warring canoe hull at Bishop Museum is made from milo, testifying to its possible great girth.
Milo wood also was used to make 'umeke la'au, or food containers, which were quite large and demonstrated great craftsmanship by the Hawaiians. Photos by Priscilla Millen.
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