Boerhavia repens

Description:

Alena or Red spiderlingNyctaginaceaeIndigenous to the Hawiian Islands (Alena is found on all the Main Hawaiian Islands and on many of the Northwest Islands: Kure Atoll, Midway Atoll, Pearl & Hermes Atoll, Lisianski, Laysan, French Frigate Shoals, and and collected only once on Nhoa at Adam's Beach in 1923 during the Tanager Expeditions.)Photo: Makapuu, OahuEarly Hawaiians and Samoans used the large roots of alena for medicinal purposes. In Samoa, the tuberous root is reportedly to have been eaten in times of famine.Polynesian Names: Aka taha (Tonga); Akataha kula (Tonga); Alena (Hawaii); Anena (Hawaii); Ktule (Niue); Luna? (Tuvalu); Nena (Hawaii); Nuna (Tokelau); Nunanuna (Societies); Patakomata (Marquesas); Runa (Cooks?, Mangareva, Tuamotus); Ufi tuli (Samoa); Ufi viole (Samoa, a modern name) EtymologyThe generic name Boerhavia was named for Hermann Boerhaave (1668-1738), a Dutch botany professor.The specific name repens is Latin for creeping, in reference to its habit of creeping along the ground.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Boerhavia_repens