What is "mahoe"

Mahoe \Ma"hoe\, n. (Bot.) A name given to several malvaceous trees (species of Hibiscus, Ochroma, etc.), and to their strong fibrous inner bark, which is used for strings and cordage.

n. 1 Any of a number of different trees, usually found around the tropics. 2 # (taxlink Alectryon macrococcus species noshow=1), a tree in the soapberry family, endemic to Hawaii. 3 # (taxlink Melicytus ramiflorus species noshow=1), a tree in the violet family, endemic to New Zealand. 4 # (taxlink Talipariti elatum species noshow=1) (blue mahoe), a tree in the mallow family, native to the Caribbean.

1. n. shrubby tree widely distributed along tropical shores; yields a light tough wood used for canoe outriggers and a fiber used for cordage and caulk; often cultivated for ornament [syn: majagua, mahagua, balibago, purau, Hibiscus tiliaceus]

2. erect forest tree of Cuba and Jamaica having variably hairy leaves and orange-yellow or orange-red flowers; yields a moderately dense timber for cabinetwork and gunstocks [syn: Cuban bast, blue mahoe, majagua, mahagua, Hibiscus elatus]

Mahoe is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

• Alectryon macrococcus, or ʻalaʻalahua, a species of tree in the soapberry family endemic to Hawaii
• Melicytus ramiflorus, a species of tree in the violet family endemic to New Zealand
• Talipariti elatum, or blue mahoe, a species of tree in the mallow family native to the Caribbean