|
We have gleaned the following
information from a number of sources. It is not meant to be exhaustive or
totally comprehensive. We will be adding plants and photographs on an
ongoing basis so please bookmark this page and return often. Mahalo. Mike
Hopkins, President, Aloha Kauai Tours, Inc. |
Indigenous-arrived
without human help, native elsewhere
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Endemic-evolved
from indigenous species, found only in Hawaii
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Aloha Kauai Tours, Inc.
|
Polynesian-brought
to Hawaii before 1778
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Plants of Hawaii
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Alien-brought
to Hawaii after 1778
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Common Name
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Latin Name
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Family
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Hawaiian Name
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Also Known As
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Origin
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Edible/Non Edible
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If Introduced, when/by whom
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Uses
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Other Information
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'Ohi'a
lehua
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Metrosideros polymorpha
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Myrtaceae
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Endemic
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Non-edible
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flowers,leaves medicinal: wood
used for canoes, houses, heiau, and poi bowls
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Sacred to Pele; subject of many
songs and legends; 1st tree on new lava flow
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'Uki'uki
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Dianella sandwicensis
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Liliacensis
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Indigenous
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Non-edible
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Polynesians
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fruit used for cloth dye; leaves
sometimes for roof thatching
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Africa Tulip Tree
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Spathodea campanulata
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Bignoniaceae
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Fountain Tree
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Tropical Africa
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Non-edible
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Ornamental
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pests in lowland forests; unopened
buds squirt water when pinched
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Albizia
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Paraseriantes falcataria
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Leguminosae
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Molucca Albizia
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Molucca
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Non-edible
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Nitrogen fixer
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Australian Pine
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Casuarina equisetifolia
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Casuarinaceae
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Ironwood, beefwood family, she oak
& horsetail tree
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Australia, Malaysia, southern Asia
& Oceania
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Non-edible
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Bamboo
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Bambusa vulgaris
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Poaceae
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'Ohe
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Polynesian
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Edible
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flutes, percussion
instruments(pu'ili), fishing rods, house frames, knives, needles, water
pipes
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Bamboo Orchid
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Arundina graminifolia
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Orchidaceae
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Banana
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Musa x paradisiaca
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Musaceae
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Mai'a
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Polynesian
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Edible
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food, cooking, cordage, inside
thatching,
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Ancient Hawaiian women only
allowed to eat 2 of over 70 varieties
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Banana Poka
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Passifloraceae mollissima
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Passifloraceae
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Andes Mts., South America
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Edible
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early 20th century
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fruit used in desserts, drinks
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1st introduced to cover an
outhouse; extremely aggressive
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Banyan Tree
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Ficus benghalensis
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Moraceae
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Vada Tree
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Asia
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Non-edible
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Ornamental
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Name is derived from ancient Hindu
merchants - Banyans, who sold in their shade
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Beard Grass
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Verbiceana
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Non-edible
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Blue Rat's Tail
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Stachytarpheta australis
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Verbenaceae
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Owi
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tastes like mushroom
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Flowers used for salad
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Bougainvillea
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Bougainvillea glabra
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Nyctaginaceae
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Brazil
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Non-edible
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Ornamental
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Named after French navigator,
Louis A. Bougainville
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Bracken Fern
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Christella denata
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Thelypteridaceae
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Kilau
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Downey wood fern
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Edible
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Breadfruit
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Artocarpus altilis
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Moraceae
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'Ulu
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Polynesian
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Edible
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Polynesians
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Wood used for drums, poi boards ,
surfboards; bract used for sandpaper; sticky sap used to catch birds for
feathers
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Buffalo Grass
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Stenotaphrum secundatum
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Non-edible
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Castor
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Ricinus Communis
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Euphorbiaceae
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Pa 'aila
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Poisonous
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Castor oil
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Roadside weed
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Christmas-berry Tree
|
Schinus terebinthifolius
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Anacardiaceae
|
Wilelaiki
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Brazilian Pepper
|
Brazil
|
Non-edible
|
|
Ornamental
|
Hawaiian name honors Willie Rice
who often wore it in his hat
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Climbing Screw Pine
|
Freycenetia Arborea
|
Pandanaceae
|
'ie
'ie
|
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Endemic
|
Edible
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Leaves woven into mats, baskets,
fish traps, sandals
|
Vine's tender new growth makes a
highly nutritious tonic
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Coconut Palm
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Cocos nucifera
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Arecaceae
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Niu
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Polynesian
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Edible
|
Polynesians
|
matting, thatching,food syrup,toys,
cordage, body oil, medicines and shelter.
|
Can germinate after 4 months in
seawater; bears apprx. 40 nuts/year
|
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Cook Pine
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Araucaria columnaris
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Araucariaceae
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Star pine, Hawaiian Christmas tree
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New Caledonia(Isle of Pines)
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Non-edible
|
1870's
|
Christmas trees, lumber, ship
masts
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Often confused with Norfolk Pine;
Named for Captain Cook; has leaf scales, not needles
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Croton
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Croton texensis
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Non-edible
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Elephant Ear
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Alocasia macrorrhizos
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Araceae
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'Ape
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Asia
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Non-edible
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milky juice relieves nettle stings
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Poisonous; stinky
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False Kamani
|
Terminalia catappa
|
Combretaceae
|
|
Tropical Almond, Kamani haole
|
Southeast Asia
|
Edible
|
1800
|
fruits contain a tasty
"almond"
|
found in FL, Puerto Rico, India,
and Virgin Islands; salt resistant
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|
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Fan Palm
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Pritchardia lanigera
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Arecaceae
|
Loulu
|
|
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Non-edible
|
Native to Hawaii
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|
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Ginger - White
|
Hedichium coronarium
|
Zingiberaceae
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'Awapuhi
Ke'oke'o
|
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Asia
|
Non-edible
|
Chinese immigrants - 1880's
|
Fragrant lei, perfume
|
Genera name means "sweet
snow"
|
|
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Ginger - Wild
|
Zingiber zerumbet
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Zingiberaceae
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'Awapuhi
Kuahiwi
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India
|
Edible(rhizomes)
|
Polynesians
|
Juice from blossom used as
shampoo, medicine, powdered rhizomes perfumed tapa
|
Green leaves indispensable in
celebrations honoring Laka, the goddess of hula
|
|
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Ginger - Yellow
|
Hedichium flavescens
|
Zingiberaceae
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'Awapuhi
Melemele
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India
|
Non-edible
|
|
Fragrant lei, perfume
|
Invasive-spreads tenacious
rhizomes; problem in parts of Alakai Swamp
|
|
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Glory bush
|
Tibouchina urvilleana
|
Melastomataceae
|
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Lasiandra
|
Southern Brazil
|
Non-edible
|
|
Ornamental
|
Aggressively invasive
|
|
|
Golden Shower Tree
|
Cassia fistula
|
Leguminosae
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Indian Laburnam, Pudding-pipe
|
Tropical Asia
|
Non-edible
|
|
Ornamental, sticky brown pulp
cathartic
|
Related to Monkey Pod Tree
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|
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Guava
|
Psidium guajava
|
Myrtaceae
|
Kuawa
|
|
Tropical America
|
Edible
|
Don Marin, 1813
|
fruit high in vitamin C, iron, and
calcium
|
leaf buds used for medicinal tea;
favorite of fruit flies
|
|
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Guinea
Grass
|
Panicum maximum
|
Poaceae
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buffalo grass
|
Africa
|
Non-edible
|
|
animal fodder,
protection from erosion, invasive resistant to fire
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|
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Hairy Indian Mallow
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Abutilon grandifolium
|
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Ma'o
|
Hair Abutilon
|
Tropical America
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|
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|
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|
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Hau
|
Hibiscus tiliaceus
|
Malvaceae
|
|
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Polynesian
|
Non-edible
|
|
Excellent cordage, outrigger booms
and floats, kites, and adz handles, hula "grass" skirts
|
Blossoms symbols of the human soul
|
|
|
Hawaiian Raspberry
|
Rubus rosifolius
|
Rosaceae
|
|
Thimbleberry, Mauritius raspberry
|
Native to Asia
|
Edible
|
1880's, from Jamaica
|
produces fruit year round
|
|
|
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Heavenly Chief
|
Allamanda cathartica
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Lani-alii
|
|
Brazil
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
|
|
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Hibiscus
|
Hibiscus kokio
|
Malvaceae
|
Koki'o ula, Maku
|
Aloalo
|
Endemic
|
Non-edible
|
|
Ornamental, flowers mild laxative,
buds pounded with salt used to treat boils
|
State flower of Hawaii - 1923; 80
genera and over 1000 species
|
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Hila Hila
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Mamossa pudica
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Non-edible
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Ironwood
|
Casuarina equisetifolia
|
Casuarinaceae
|
Paina
|
beefwood, she-oak
|
Northern Australia
|
Non-edible
|
A.S Cleghorn, 1890
|
medicinal-bark high in tannin:
wood used for war clubs, spears, tapa beaters
|
Named after Australian bird, the
Cassowary; symbol of faithfulness
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Italian Cypress
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Cupressus sempervirens
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Eastern Mediterranean
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Java Plum
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Syzygium cumini
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Myrtaceae
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Jambolan plum
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Southeast Asia
|
Edible
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jelly
|
fast growing tree; fruit stains
everything
|
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Jobe's Tears
|
Coix lacryma-jobi
|
Poaceae
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|
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Non-edible
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Kamani
|
Calophyllum inophyllum
|
Clusiaceae
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Alexandrian Laurel
|
Asia, Pacific Islands
|
|
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Oil used as medicine for skin and
hair, wood,perfume
|
seed is poisonous. Sacred to the
Polynesians - subject of many chants
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Kiawe
|
Prosopis pallida
|
Leguminosae
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Mesquite, Algaroba
|
Peru
|
cattle feed
|
Father Bachelot, 1828
|
fuel, flowers produce honey
nectar, reforestation, charcoal
|
deep tap roots can lower water
table
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Koa
|
Acacia koa
|
Fabaceae
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|
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Endemic
|
Non-edible
|
|
wood used for canoes, house beams,
spears, and surfboards
|
Early Hawaiian chose a Koa tree
for canoes that the 'elepaio hadn't been pecking
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|
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Koa-haole
|
Leucaena leucocephala
|
Fabaceae
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ekoa, lilikoa
|
|
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cattle feed
|
early 19th century
|
fixes nitrogen, seed lei
|
Aggressively invasive
|
|
|
Koster's Curse
|
Clidemia hirta
|
Melastomataceae
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Western Hemisphere
|
Non-edible
|
1941
|
|
pest- hairy seeds spreads by
hikers
|
|
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Kou
|
Cordia subcordata
|
Boraginaceae
|
Kou
|
devil pepper
|
|
Edible
|
endemic to hawaii
|
utensils, wood, dye
|
In old Hawaii, the wood was
cherished - 2nd only to Koa
|
|
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Kukui Nut
|
Aleurites moluccana
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Kukui
|
Candlenut tree
|
Malaysia, Pacific Islands
|
Edible
|
Polynesians
|
flowers, nuts and bark used
medicinally, for leis, tattoo dyes, canoe paint, bark cloth, candles, oil,
and a spicy condiment called 'inamona: wood for canoes and fishing floats
|
State tree of Hawaii; Official
flower of Molokai
|
|
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Lantana
|
Lantana camara
|
Verbenaceae
|
Lakana
|
|
Tropical America
|
Non-edible
|
1858 as an ornamental
|
|
Invasive pest
|
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Lichens
|
Sterocaulon vulcani
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Limu
|
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Lobelia
|
Lobelia yuccoides
|
Campanulaceae
|
'Oha,
Haha, panaunau
|
110 endemic species in 7 genera
|
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Non-edible
|
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Macadamia
|
Macadamia integrifolia
|
|
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Queensland Nut
|
Australia
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Edible
|
|
Delicious nuts grow year-round
|
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|
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Macaranga
|
Macaranga tanarius
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
|
Mahang Puteh
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Maiden Hair Fern
|
Adiantum capillus-vereris
|
Polypodiaceae
|
|
Southern Maiden Hair Fern
|
Southern United States
|
|
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Maile
|
Alyxia oliviformis
|
Apocynaceae
|
|
|
Endemic
|
Non-edible
|
|
Lei - Sacred to Laka, Goddess of
the Hula
|
|
|
|
Malasian Orchid
|
Spathoglottis plicata
|
Orchidaceae
|
|
Philippine ground orchid
|
S.E. Asia
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mamaki
|
Pipturus kauaiensis
|
Urticaceae
|
Mamaki, Mamake
|
|
Endemic
|
Non-edible
|
|
seeds laxative, bark and leaves
medicinal, bark fibers used for cloth, cordage
|
|
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Mandalay Gum
|
|
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Non-edible
|
|
|
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|
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Mango
|
Mangifera indica
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Manko
|
|
India (via Mexico)
|
Edible
|
Don Marin, 1813
|
Delicious fruit
|
Skin and leaves poisonous like
poison ivy/oak and sumac.
|
|
|
Milo
|
Thespesia populnea
|
Malvaceae
|
Sea Mahoe
|
Portia tree
|
|
Edible (young leaves)
|
|
Sapless wood excellent for
calabashes; oil, dye, medicine, cordage
|
Popular shade tree, sometimes
confused with Hau
|
|
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Mokihana
|
Malcope Anisata
|
Rutaceae
|
|
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Endemic to Kauai
|
Non-edible
|
|
Fragrant lei, perfume
|
fresh berries can burn the skin
|
|
|
Monkey Pod
|
Samanea saman
|
Mimosaceae
|
'Ohai
|
Rain Tree (South America)
|
Asia
|
Non-edible
|
|
wood used for bowls and carvings
|
|
|
|
Montbretia
|
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
|
Iridaceae
|
|
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South Africa
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
Sterile hybrid, spreads by
rhizomes
|
|
|
Morning Glory
|
Ipomoea indica
|
Convolvulaceae
|
Koali 'awa
|
|
Indigenious
|
Non-edible
|
|
stems, roots used to relieve
aches, pain, and constipation
|
|
|
|
Moss
|
Lycopodiella cernua
|
Lycopodiaceae
|
wawae iole, Limu
|
Ruku Ruku
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
medicine for rheumatism- extrenal
soak
|
|
|
|
Naupaka - Beach
|
Scaevola sericea
|
Goodeniaceae
|
Naupaka Kahakai
|
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Naupaka - Mountain
|
Scaevola glabra
|
Goodeniaceae
|
'ohe naupaka
|
|
Endemic
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
Pollenized by honeycreepers
|
|
|
Noni
|
Morinda citrifolia
|
Moraceae
|
|
Indian Mulberry
|
Polynesians
|
Edible
|
Polynesians
|
Medicinal: External as a
poultice/internally as a tonic,dyes, famine food(fruit stinky)
|
seeds have an air sack which
floats them on breezes, widely distributed
|
|
|
Norfolk Island Pine
|
Araucaria heterophylla
|
|
|
|
Norfolk Island
|
Non-edible
|
|
Christmas trees, lumber, ship
masts
|
Has wider cone shape than Cook
Pine, more numerous and leaf scales(no needles)
|
|
|
Octupus Tree
|
Schefflera actinophylla
|
Araliaceae
|
"Rubber tree"
|
Umbrella tree or Brassaia
actinophylla
|
Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oleander - Yellow
|
Cascabella peruviana
|
Apocynaceae
|
Noho Malie
|
Be-Still Oleander
|
Peru
|
Non-edible
|
|
Ornamental
|
Poisonous
|
|
|
Pandanus
|
Pandanus tectorius
|
Pandanaceae
|
Hala, Lauhala(leaves)
|
Screwpine; Tourist pineapple
|
Polynesians
|
fruit is edible
|
Polynesians
|
leaves used to weave mats,
hats,sandals, sails, fans; medicinal
|
pollen from male flowers
considered an aphrodisiac in ancient Hawaii by young girls; lei of
individual orange fruits symbolic of a new beginning
|
|
|
Papala
|
Charpentiera elliptica
|
Amaranthaceae
|
|
|
Endemic
|
non-edible
|
|
used for fireworks, called "
'oahi ", branches flung from cliffs;soft pith gives off sparks
|
|
|
|
Papala kepau
|
Pisonia umbellifera
|
Nyctaginaceae
|
|
|
Endemic
|
non-edible
|
|
sticky gum from fruit exterior
used to catch birds
|
5 native species
|
|
|
Papaya
|
Carica papaya
|
Caricaceae
|
Mikana, He'I
|
Pawpaw(British)
|
Brazil
|
Edible
|
early 1800's
|
Delicious fruit, high in Vitamins
A & C; Leaves used as soap, meat tenderizer
|
seeds medicinal; 45 varieties
|
|
|
Paper Bark
|
Melaleuca quinquenervia
|
Myrtaceae
|
|
Cajeput tree
|
Australia, New Guinea and New
Caledonia
|
non-edible
|
|
timber, fuel, reforestation, and
oil from leaves used externally for rheumatism
|
|
|
|
Papyrus
|
Cyperus papyrus
|
Cyperaceae
|
|
Giant sedge, punktree
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Passion Fruit
|
Passiflora flavicarpa
|
Passifloraceae
|
Lilikoi
|
|
Alien- South America
|
Edible
|
1923
|
used for desserts, drinks
|
Hawaiian name honors place where
it was 1st cultivated
|
|
|
Pink Malestoma
|
Melastoma candidum
|
Melastomataceae
|
|
Indian rhododendron
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plumeria
|
|
Apocynaceae
|
Melia
|
Frangipani(British)
|
Tropical America
|
Non-edible
|
|
Commonest lei flower
|
Widely planted in graveyards
|
|
|
Poinsettia
|
Euphorbia pulcherrima
|
|
|
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pomello
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pothos Vine
|
Epipremnum aureum
|
|
|
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rainbow Eucalyptus
|
Bagras eucalyptus
|
Myrtaceae
|
|
|
South Pacific
|
Non-edible
|
|
Reforestation, lumber
|
|
|
|
Rose Myrtle
|
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa
|
Myrtaceae
|
|
rat berry or Isenberg berry, Downy
Rose Myrtle
|
Asia
|
fruit edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royal Poinciana
|
Delonix regia
|
Leguminosae
|
Ohai 'ula
|
Flame Tree
|
Madagascar
|
|
1855
|
Ornamental, seed lei
|
|
|
|
Sandalwood
|
Santalum freycinetianum
|
Santalaceae
|
'ilahi
|
|
Four Endemic Hawaiian species
|
Non-edible
|
|
medicinal, wood highly
aromatic-used for incense, furniture
|
almost depleted in 18th,19th
centuries; partly parasitic
|
|
|
Satin Leaf
|
Chrysophyllum oliviforme
|
Sapotaceae
|
|
false coffee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sea Grape
|
Coccoloba uvifera
|
Polygonaceae
|
|
West Indian Sea Grape
|
|
Edible
|
|
leaves used as writing paper,
grapes made into jelly
|
|
|
|
Sisal Hemp
|
Agave sisalana
|
Agavaceae
|
|
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
brought to Hawaii as a fiber crop,
now naturalized
|
|
|
|
Spiderwort
|
Commelina diffusa
|
|
Hono Hono
|
|
|
|
|
medicine and animal food
|
|
|
|
Strawberry Guava
|
Psidium cattleianum
|
Myrtaceae
|
Waiawi, 'ula'ula
|
Purple strawberry guava
|
Brazil
|
Edible
|
Early 1800's
|
fruit
|
Invasive pest; seeds germinate
better after passing through wild pigs
|
|
|
Sugar cane
|
Saccharum officinarum
|
Poaceae
|
Ko
|
|
Polynesians
|
Edible
|
|
Sugar; made into darts for game (ke'a
pua)
|
|
|
|
Swamp Mahogany
|
Eucalyptus robusta
|
Myrtaceae
|
Palepiwa
|
Gum Tree
|
Australia
|
non-edible
|
|
Reforestation, timber, tannin, and
essential oils: watershed protection
|
grows rapidly, regenerates from
stumps, shallow roots
|
|
|
Sword Fern
|
Nephrolepis exaltata
|
Nephrolepidaceae
|
Oku Pukupu
|
DaVallia fern
|
|
Edible
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taro
|
Colocasia esculenta
|
Araceae
|
Kalo
|
|
Polynesians
|
Edible
|
Polynesians
|
food (Poi & Laulau), medicine
|
over 275 types; insects and
herbivores avoid it due to calcium oxalate crystals
|
|
|
Teak Tree
|
Tectona grandis
|
|
|
|
India, the Phillipines & Java
|
Non-edible
|
|
furniture
|
can grow 50 feet in three years
and reach 150 feet
|
|
|
Ti
|
Cordyline fruticosa
|
Agavaceae
|
Ki
|
la'I (leaves)
|
Polynesians
|
Edible - roots famine food
|
Polynesians
|
used like tinfoil,made into hula
skirts; many utilitarian, religious uses
|
In modern times roots distilled
into alcoholic beverage, 'okolehao
|
|
|
Ti - red
|
Cordyline terminalis
|
Agavaceae
|
Ki
|
flaming dragon tree
|
Polynesians
|
Edible - roots famine food
|
|
used like tinfoil,made into hula
skirts; many utilitarian, religious uses
|
berries form more on domestic
rather than on wild varieties
|
|
|
Turmeric
|
Curcuma longa
|
|
'Olena
|
Cape York lily (Australia)
|
Polynesian
|
Edible
|
|
purification, medicine, dye for
long yellow skirts (pa'u)
|
Surprisingly, not used by the
Hawaiians to make curry
|
|
|
Umbrella-grass
|
Cyperus latifolia
|
Cyperaceae
|
|
|
|
non-edible
|
|
Ornamental
|
|
|
|
Wauke
|
Broussonetia papyrifera
|
Moraceae
|
Wauke
|
paper mulberry
|
|
Non-edible
|
Polynesians
|
made into the softest, most
durable cloth (kapa); cordage, medicinal
|
|
|
|
Wiliwili
|
Erythrina sandwicensis
|
Fabaceae
|
Wiliwili
|
|
Endemic
|
Non-edible
|
Endemic
|
seeds for lei; wood for canoe
outriggers, surfboards, and net floats
|
Flowers proverbial shark bait
|
|
|
Wood Rose
|
Merremia tuberosa
|
Convolvulaceae
|
Pilikai, Kowali, Koali
|
Ceylon Morning-glory, Spanish
Arbor vine
|
|
Non-edible
|
|
Ornamental - takes 3 months from
blossom to rose
|
|
|