Mako’i
Mako’i – Thespesia populnea
Tree 5-10 m tall with alternate heart-shaped leaves, 6-11 cm long. Solitary flowers 4-7 cm in diameter, yellow petals with a purple spot at the base. Fruit in globose capsule with 5 lobes, 2-3 cm in diameter.
Importance
Its wood was valued for carving and is even more so today, as it is the only native tree that offers top quality raw material for carving. It would also have had an entertainment use for children, making a type of spinning top with the fruit.
Propagation
It reproduces by seeds in the Mataveri Otai Nursery of CONAF.
Ecology
It is found naturally from sea level up to 200 m above sea level. It can grow on rocks (Rano Kau), on cliffs (Poike) or in coastal areas (Hanga Oteo). It is also cultivated in the village as an ornamental plant and for its wood.
Conservation
Very rare in its natural habitat, classified as VULNERABLE. Most of these trees fruit well and the seeds are fertile. Currently multiplied in the Mataveri Otai nursery and reintroduced into the wild. CONAF Rapa Nui propagates, delivers and plants several thousand mako'i every year for the last 15 years, so its current official status should be reconsidered.
Distribution
Indigenous from East Africa to Polynesia, probably originating in Southeast Asia. In Rapa Nui, it is considered as introduced by the Polynesian colonizers.
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