Pipturus albidus

Description:

MmakiUrticaceae (Nettle family)Endemic to the Hawaiian IslandsOahu (Cultivated); an Oahu varietyView looking down on the shrub. Each of the larger leaves are as big or bigger than a man's open hand.www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/29257593740/in/photolist...Mmaki has been used since the early Hawaiians. Dried or fresh leaves are used to make a mild but invigorating and healthy tea and today is one few commercially available native herbs for consumption. Ripe whitish fruits are bland but edible. Early Hawaiians used mmaki wood to make clubs and kapa beaters (ie kuku). The branches were used as "bait for cowries."The sap mixed with water was used to keep the kapa (tapa) wauke moist in preparation process. But mmaki itself was an important source of for kapa. Though the second best choice of kapa, it was more durable than wauke. However, the kapa mmaki was durable only when dry. It tore like paper if washed or got wet, whereas wauke could be washed. The inner bark of mmaki was made into a brown colored kapa when wauke was not available. Kapa mmaki was made in the same way as kapa wauke. The kapa quality was said to be very good and fit for a king! It has been noted that in a well-known Hawaiian collection, it is estimated that more than a third of the kapa samples were made from mmaki (Pipturus spp.).Mmaki for tapa was mostly made on the island of Hawaii. On other islands, mmaki was usually mixed with wauke when used for kapa.Women ate mmaki fruits and seeds during the later months of pregnancy. The fruit was also used in healing sores and wounds. Mothers gave the small white fruit to children as a mild laxative or to treat ea (thrush). Seeds were given to infants and adults as a tonic for general debility of the body.The leaves and bark of two varieties, mmaki keokeo and mmaki ulaula, were consumed and recognized as "greatly desired by the Hawaiians." There were no medical complications, with "both of them a blessing for those who are weak and frail."Berries were also used to dress sores and wounds.EtymologyThe generic name Pipturus is derived from the Greek pipto, to fall, and oura, tail, in reference to the caducous stigma.The specific epithet albidis is Latin for white.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pipturus_albidus