Editing Leptecophylla tameiameiae

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Pukiawe (''Leptecophylla tameiameiae'')
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Leptecophylla tameiameiae''
|-
! Common names
| Pukiawe; pukeawe
|-
! Genus
| [[Leptecophylla]]
|-
! Family
| [[Ericaceae]]
|-
! Order
| [[Ericales]]
|}

'''Pukiawe''' (''Leptecophylla tameiameiae'') is a Hawaiian and Marquesan shrub or small tree in the family [[Ericaceae]].<sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> It is recorded under the common names pukiawe and pukeawe.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Description ==

The growth form is variable, ranging from a low, spreading shrub to a small tree about 15 feet tall.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> Flowers may be perfect or unisexual, so flower sexuality can vary among plants.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

The fruit is a round drupe about 1/4 inch across. Recorded colors include red, pink, and white; the flesh is described as red-orange and contains 5–8 seeds.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

During seed establishment, keep the sowing medium moist under the shaded conditions used in the propagation procedure.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> This is establishment guidance rather than a fixed landscape-soil prescription.

=== Sun and humidity ===

Use shade during germination and acclimatize seedlings after emergence before moving them into their growing position.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

For seed work, a warm treatment phase may be important because a study of this species addresses release of deep physiological dormancy at high temperatures.<sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Propagation ==

Remove fruit pulp before sowing. The propagation procedure describes alternative vinegar/hot-water treatment or room-temperature soaking, followed by shaded sowing with managed moisture and acclimatization after emergence.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> Treated seed is reported to germinate over roughly one to six months, with about 50% germination.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

A separate 2005 study focuses on deep physiological dormancy in the multi-seeded drupes and its release at high temperatures.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup> The propagation account also suggests a 12-inch air-layering route; treat this as an experimental option rather than an established production method.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

Flowering plants may have perfect or unisexual flowers.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> The resulting drupes are described as round and about 1/4 inch across, with red, pink, or white coloration, red-orange flesh, and 5–8 seeds.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Fruit and uses ==

Pukiawe produces small, multi-seeded drupes whose recorded exterior colors range from red to pink or white.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup> Fruit color and flesh description alone do not establish edibility or safe human use; do not treat this species as a food crop without separate species-specific safety confirmation.

== References ==

* <span id="cite_note-1"></span>[[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Leptecophylla%20tameiameiae GBIF species match: Leptecophylla tameiameiae].

* <span id="cite_note-2"></span>[[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/plants/sty-tame.htm Styphelia tameiameiae (Pukiawe) | Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database].

* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://doi.org/10.1079/ssr2005223 Baskin, Baskin, Yoshinaga and Thompson (2005), “Germination of drupelets in multi-seeded drupes of the shrub Leptecophylla tameiameiae (Ericaceae) from Hawaii: a case for deep physiological dormancy broken by high temperatures,” Seed Science Research 15(4):349–356].