COMMON NAMES: Polynesian Freycinetia

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Kiekie (RR); Other Polynesian - ‘Ie ‘Ie (SAM), ‘Ie ‘Ie (TAH), ‘Ie ‘Ie (HAW)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE Cooks - Australs - Societies - Marquesas - Hawai‘i

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native, Endemic of Polynesia; S.Group (RR only - v.common); Land, mountains (++++)

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Material (Fibre)

KEY FEATURES: Climbing or scrambling vine, to 10m. STEM to 4cmØ, branching; prominent leaf-scars associated with 1-3 roots. ROOTS 2 forms; adhesive short, horizontal, adhering for climbing; aerial very long, hanging, to 6mmØ, with scattered conical knobs to 3x2mm(HxØ). LEAVES in terminal crown; arching, slender, furrowed, to 60x3cm, tapering to a long sharp tip, glossy dark green, edge mainly smooth with small teeth near base. FLOWERS plants unisexual (dioecious); terminal; 2-5 short stalks (=spadices) densely covered in minute unisexual flowers; initially enclosed in several orange or orange-and-green leaf-like bracts (=spathes). FRUIT (=syncarp) a thick cylinder packed with long, slender, multi-sided berries; ripening red.