Pandanus tectorius

Description:

Hala or ScrewpinePandanaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsThe fragrant bracts of the male hala flower (hnano).Male flowers, called hnano in Hawaiian, are surrounded by very fragrant bracts. The soft part of hnano were chewed by early Hawaiian mothers and given to infants and young children as a laxative. Adults also used it as a laxative.Polynesian Names for Female Tree: Ara (Cooks, Mangareva); Ara tai (Cooks); Ara taatai (Cooks); Balawa (Fiji); F (Niue, Tonga, Uvea); Faa (Southern Marquesas); Fala (Futuna, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu); Fara Societies, Tuamotus); Fasa (Samoa); Haa (Northern Marquesas); Hala or Hala hua (Hawaii); Vadra (Fiji) Polynesian Names for Male Tree:Higano (Tokelau, Uvea); Hingano (Tonga); Sigano (Futuna, Samoa); Hinano (Marquesas, Societies); Hnano (Hawaii); Ingano (Cooks)NPH00008nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pandanus_tectorius