Molokai Treecotton (Kokia cookei)
Description
The Kokia species is only known to have existed in the lowlands of western Moloka-i island of the Hawaiian Islands. Presumably, its native habitat was lowland dry forests on the leeward western end of the island. This was all but cut down by Polynesian settlers about the year 1000 CE to make room for agriculture. It seems to have been noted by these settlers, as suggested by the native name hau hele-ula ("entirely red hau"). The three trees initially found grew near Mahana, northeast of Puu Nana.at approximately 200 metres (660 ft) elevation.Although the original forest ecosystem was destroyed and replaced by shrubland with plants like native -ilie-e (Plumbago zeylanica) and introduced flora, Moloka-i koki-o survived initially. It seems to have had some tolerance to habitat change, enabling it to hang on until the 19th century.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Malvales
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Family: Malvaceae
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Genus: Kokia
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