Native Plants of Nu`alolo Kai

Plant

Scientific Name

Uses

`A`ali`i

Family: Sapindaceae

(Soapberry)

Genus: Dodonaea

Species: D. viscosa

-lei and dye from fruit

-sticky covering of leaves for medicine

-wood for timber, weapons, tools

`Āhinahina

Family: Asteraceae

(Sunflower)

Genus: Artemisia

Species: A.

-to keep insects from eating the feather cloaks in koa calabashes

`Ahu`awa

Family: Cyperaceae

(Sedge)

Genus: Mariscus

Species: M.

`Aki`aki

Family: Poaceae

(Grass)

Genus: Sporobolus

Species: S. virginicus

Alahe`e

Family: Rubiaceae

(Coffee)

Genus: Psydrax

Species: P. odorata

-wood for `ō`ō (digging stick) and sharp-edged adze blades for cutting softer wood

-leaves for black dye

`Āweoweo

Family: Chenopodiaceae

(Goosefoot)

Genus: Chenopodium

Species: C. oahuense

-leafy vegetable

-edible seeds

`Āwikiwiki

Family: Fabaceae

(Legume or Pea)

Genus: Canavalia

Species: C. napaliensis

-seeds for lei

Hala

Family: Pandanaceae

(Screw Pine)

Genus: Pandanus

Species: P. tectorius

-leaves for mats, baskets, sandals, pillows, and thatching

-seeds can be eaten

Hame

Family: Euphorbiaceae

(Spurge)

Genus: Antidesma

Species: A. platyphyllum

-wood for tools, anvil

-red fruit juice for dye

Hao

Family: Apocynaceae

(Dogbone)

Genus: Rauvolfia

Species: R. sandwicensis

-firewood – charcoal

`Iliahi

Sandalwood

Family: Santalaceae

(Sandalwood)

Genus: Santalum

Species: S. ellipticum

-fragrant wood

`Ili`e`e

Family: Plumbaginaceae

(Plumbago or Leadwort)

Genus: Plumbago

Species: P. zeylanica

-root juice for medicine

-root juice for black dye for tattooing

`Ilima

Family: Malvaceae

(Mallow)

Genus: Sida

Species: S. fallax

-modern: flower of O`ahu

-flowers for lei

-roots for medicine

Kamani

Family: Clusiaceae

(Autograph Tree)

Genus: Calophyllum

Species: C. inophyllum

-hard wood

-oil from seeds

-posts for hale (house)

Kawelu

Family: Poaceae

(Grass)

Genus: Eragrostis

Species: E. variabilis

Koai`a

Family: Fabaceae

(Legume or Pea)

Genus: Acacia

Species: A. koaia

-woodworking, mainly canoes

-lumber

-crafts

Koali

Family: Convolvulaceae

(Morning Glory)

Genus: Ipomoea

Species: I. Indica

-for aches and pains

-to heal broken bones

Koki`o `Ula

Family: Malvaceae

(Mallow)

Genus: Hibiscus

Species: H. kokio saintjohnnianus

Kou

Family: Boraginaceae

(Comfrey)

Genus: Cordia

Species: C. subcordata

-wood for kitchen utensils

-seeds for famine food

Kulu`ī

Family: Amaranthaceae

(Amaranth)

Genus: Nototrichium

Species: N. sandwicense

-firewood

Lonomea

Family: Sapindaceae

(Soapberry)

Genus: Sapindus

Species: S. oahuensis

-soap

-seeds for lei

-laxative

-wood for weapons and house building

Loulu

Family: Arecaceae

(Palm)

Genus: Pritchardia

Species: P. napaliensis

-thatching

Makaloa

Family: Cyperaceae

(Sedge)

Genus: Cyprus

Species: C. laevigatus

-mats

Maua

Family: Cyperaceae

(Sedge)

Genus: Fimbristylis

Species: F. cymosa umbellato-capitata

Naio

Family: Myoporaceae

(Myoporum)

Genus: Myoporum

Species: M. sandwicense

-larger trunks and branches for hale (house) posts

-smaller materials for thatching poles

Nanea

Family: Fabaceae

(Legume or Pea)

Genus: Vigna

Species: V. marina

Naupaka Kahakai

Family: Goodeniaceae

(Goodenia)

Genus: Scaevola

Species: S. taccada

-berries for lubricant

Nehe

Family: Asteraceae

(Sunflower)

Genus: Lipochaeta

Species: L. connata acris

-root juice for medicine

-black dye for tattooing

`Ohelo Kai

Family: Solanaceae

(Nightshade)

Genus: Lycium

Species: L. sandwicense

-edible fruit (like a tomato)

Olonā

Family: Urticaceae

(Nettle)

Genus: Touchardia

Species: T. latifolia

-fishing line and fishing nets

-rope

-framework for feather caps and helmets

Olopua

Family: Oleaceae

(Olopua)

Genus: Nestegis

Species: N. sandwicensis

-hard wood for tools

Pili grass

Family: Poaceae

(Grass)

Genus: Heteropogon

Species: H. contortus

-thatching

Pua Kala

Hawaiian Poppy

Family: Papaveraceae

(Poppy)

Genus: Argemone

Species: A. glauca

-used to treat toothaches, ulcers, and neuralgia (nerve pain)

Uhaloa

Family: Sterculiaceae

(Chocolate)

Genus: Waltheria

Species: W. indica

-sore throat medicine

`Uki`uki

Family: Liliaceae

(Lily)

Genus: Dianella

Species: D. sandwicensis

-leaves braided for cordage, used in house construction

-seed for lei

-fruit extract for kapa dye

Ulei

Family: Rosaceae

(Rose)

Genus: Osteomelus

Species: O. anthyllidifolia

-fruit for dye

Polynesian-introduced Plants of Nu`alolo Kai

Plant

Scientific Name

Uses

Hoi

Air Potato

Family: Dioscoriaceae

(Bitter Yam)

Genus: Dioscorea

Species: D. bulbifera

-famine food

Ipu

Bottle Gourd

Family: Cucurbitaceae

(Cucumber)

Genus: Lagenaria

Species: L. siceraria

-container

-musical implements (rattles, drums)

-food

-for navigation

Kalo

Taro

Family: Araceae

(Arum)

Genus: Colocasia

Species: C. esculenta

-main staple

Ki

Ti

Mai`a

Maoli `Ele`ele Dark Banana

Family: Musaceae

(Banana)

Genus: Musa

Species: M. x paradisiaca

-fruit for food

-leaves for wrapping

-fiber for cordage

-ceremonies

Milo

Portia

Family: Malvaceae

(Mallow)

Genus: Thespesia

Species: T. populnea

Noni

Indian Mulberry

Family: Morindaceae

Genus: Morinda

Species: M. citrifolia

-fruits and leaves for medicine

-root bark for dye

`Uala

Sweet Potato

Family: Convolvulaceae

(Morning Glory)

Genus: Ipomoea

Species: I. Batatas

-food – root crop and vegetable

Uhi

Yam

Family: Dioscoriaceae

(Bitter Yam)

Genus: Dioscorea

Species: D. pentaphylla

-food

Ulu

Breadfruit

Family: Moraceae

(Mulberry)

Genus: Artocarpus

Species: A. altilis

-carbohydrate

-can be preserved

-sap used as glue

Wauke

Paper Mulberry

Family: Moraceae

(Mulberry)

Genus: Broussonetia

Species: B. papyrifera

-cloth

-wick

-cordage