PlantFiles: Maile
Alyxia oliviformis

I have not grown this plant. Maile (Alyxia oliviformis) is an endemic Hawaiian Islands twining vine, subshrub or sprawling shrub. No records of it can be found in Kaho'olawe and Ni'ihau. In all probabilty, it grew there at one time; however, it has become extinct due to its habitats being destroyed. It can be found growing natively in in most mesic to wet forests and dry shrublands. Maille is cultivated and grown in calcareous to heavy clay soil. It grows best in 80 percent shade.

The variable smooth, glossy, dark green, up tp 3.5 inches long leaves are paler underneath. They occur in groups of two, three or four. When they are crushed or twisted, the leaves and bark emit a pleasant fragrance. The substance that gives this plant its fragrance is coumarin which is contained in all of the plant's parts. Colleters, a group or tuft of mucilaginous secretory hairs are in the leaf axils. Recognizing the highly variable shapes of maile, Hawaiians developed names to describe them. Some names include maile pakaha (blunt-leaved maile), maile lau li'i (small-leaved maile), maile lau nui (large-leaved maile), maile ha'i wale (brittle maile) and maile kaluhea (sweet maile).

Maile's tubular 2 to 3 mm in diameter flowers are light greenish to yellowish white or cream to yellow-orange and appear in small clusters or cymes. They have a faint vanilla-like scent. The bisexual flowers are actinomorphic or sometimes weakly zygomorphic. Usually, fruiting occurs in the fall and winter; however, fruit may be produced at other times of the year also. The small, oval fruits (drupes) are green when immature and turn a dark purple or black when ripe. A slightly sticky, milky sap is associted with the fruit. They are often divided into 2 to 4 chain-like segments which each contain a football-shaped seed.

Maile can be propagated by seed. Very ripe fruit should be crushed and soaked in cold water for 3-24 hours or up to three days in water in the refrigerator. The pulp should be removed and the seed thoroughly cleaned and dried for storing or planting. With stored seed, the best overall germination is obtained when seeds are stored at about 43 degrees F (household refrigerator temperature). The cleaned seed should be surface sown on sterile potting soil and kept moist but not wet. Place the containers in a shaded area providing a misting every other day. Expect germination to occur in 2 weeks to 5 months.

Although maile is usually grown from seed, it can also be propagated by rooting single node woody (hardwood) stem cuttings in sterile potting soil. The containers should in a shaded area where temperatures range from 68 to 80 degrees F which provides the greatest success with the rooting process. Cuttings should be misted every day.

Maile is one of the most popular plants used to construct lei. Maile lei used to be only made for royalty; however, that is not the case in modern times with them being prominent at special events. Maile lei are often made with the ends not connected to each other. They are draped around the neck leaving them hanging freely over the left and right shoulders. The leafy young vines' leaves and bark are loosely arranged on one plane with each vine length tied in and twisted (woven) together (hipu'u style) to form lei 'a'i (neck lei) or lei po'o (head lei).

In times of battle, maile was a peace emblem. In addition, it was a symbol of courtship and love. Due to its fragrance, it was employed to scent lau hala sleeping mats. Medicinally, the plant also was used in puholoholos (steam baths) to treat an illness called kilikilioe. However, these treatments were only for chiefs. Because Hawaiian natives believe that maile is sacred, it plays a part in Hawaiian mythology as well.

Maile is drastically reduced in Hawaii due to loss of habitat, other factors such as oat grazing and because it is one of the most popular lei making materials. Now, the Cook Islands provide much of the maile which is purchased. Although it is not uncommon in the wild, it is becoming more difficult to find because of its popularity. It is classified as a threatened plant.