kohekohe-2
kohekohe-2
Leaves & Pawehe
| Cross-section through living E. calva at the base of the
Stem. The Leaf Sheath can bee seen. This was photographed with normal light. |
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| Cross-section through living E. calva at the base of the Stem viewed with polarized light. |  |
| Same as above with the stem removed so that the Leaf is easier to see. |  |
| Cross-section of pawehe taken from a mat at the Bishop Museum: Note that it is identical to the leaf section above. |  |
| One Corner of a pawehe Section: Note the location of the Vascular Bundles and Air Spaces. Note the similarity with the Leaf section above. |  |
| Close-up of a pawehe Sample: Note the characteristic Fibers and the Vascular Bundle. |  |
| Section of Leaf from a Herbarium Sample of E. calva: Note the similarity with the pawehe sample above. |  |
| Section of Leaf from a Herbarium Sample of E. calva: Note the similarity with the pawehe sample above. |  |
Based on the observations of Herbarium Samples and living plants it is clear that the pawehe designs on the moena makali'i were made from the leaves of kohekohe (Eleocharis calva or E. obtusa). Sections from E. calva and E. obtusa are virtually identical. Consequently, both may have been used to make the pawehe patterns. Further work should clarify this. |
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