Mokihana

Endemic Melicope anisata (H. Mann) T. Hartley & B. Stone, commonly called mokihana is a member of the citrus family, Rutaceae. It is a shrub about 2-8 meters tall with thin, leather-like, elliptic, opposite leaves that are strongly pungent with anise odor and the scent is retained sometimes for years, in the dry wood as well as in the capsules. The flowers are small, growing on a short stalk in clusters, with petals that are thin and transparent. The fruit is a leathery, cube-shaped capsule with shiny, black seeds.

The capsules were threaded and worn by Hawaiian women and men alike as leis or wreaths. It was one of the Hawaiians favorite perfumes; twigs as well as capsules were placed between the folds of their tapa cloth. Mokihana fruits are symbolic of the island of Kauai. Fresh fruits sometimes burn the skin.

Mokihana , Melicope anisata (H. Mann) T. Hartley & B. Stone, of the family Rutaceae (citrus family) is an endemic slender tree of medium height which occurs in a number of varieties throughout the islands. It belongs to the genus Pelea, the name of which is derived from the Hawaiian goddess of the volcano, (Melicope Pele). The crushed leaves emit a strong pungent anise odor. Mokihana is common in diverse mesic to wet forest of Kauai.