Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “PRE POLYNESIAN Section A”
A36 🌺PUAKENIKENI (Fagraea berteroana orth. variant F. berteriana) Gentianaceae family A tree, almost always in bloom, produces sweet-smelling flowers often used for making lei in Hawaiʻi. Its Hawaiian name means “ten-cent flower” because that was the price of each blossom when it was first introduced to the islands in the 1930’s. Native to New Guinea, Northern Australia and some Pacific …
A35 🌺ʻŌHAI (Sesbania tomentosa) Fabaceae family This flowering plant is endemic to Hawai’i and is federally listed as endangered. This plant can be found as a small shrub and sometimes a tree, and found naturally on sandy beaches, dunes, and soil puka on lava. The 🌺ʻōhai is now extinct naturally on Ni’ihau and restricted to only seven other locations in …
A34 EXPANDED LOBSTER CLAW (Heliconia latispatha) Heliconiaceae family A tropical plant with colorful and claw-shaped floral bracts. Native to Mexico, Central and South America, but has been introduced and naturalized in Florida, Jamaica and Hawai’i. Can grow up to 12 feet tall Has banana-like leaves Flowers are green, yellow or orange and produce blue fruits
A33 🌺PŌHINAHINA, SIMPLELEAF CHASTETREE (Vitex trifolia) Lamiaceae family Pōhinahina is a shrub or small tree that belongs to the mint family. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. In Hawaiian, it is known as pōhinahina or kolokolo kahakai. Has three-lobed leaves that are aromatic when crushed Produces clusters of blue or purple flowers that …
A32 LOBSTER CLAW RED (Heliconia stricta) Heliconiaceae family Heliconia stricta is a tropical plant native to South America, with colorful bracts that resemble lobster claws or parrots’ beaks. Can grow up to 9 feet tall and reproduce by seeds or rhizomes Bracts can hold water and provide habitat for many insects In Hawai’i, it is used for lei making
A31 🌺LAUA’E FERN (Phymatosorus scolopendria) Polypodiaceae family A tropical fern that was introduced to Hawai’i in the early 20th century and has become naturalized on all the main islands. 🌺Laua’e means “sweet-smelling fern.” Long, lobed leaves with wart-like bumps on the upper surface, caused by the spores on the underside Can grow on the ground, on rocks, or on tree …
A30 FIDDLELEAF PLUMERIA (Plumeria pudica) Apocynaceae family Plumeria is a shrub or small tree native to Panama, Colombia and Venezuela, but has been introduced to other tropical regions. Dark green leaves that are shaped like a fiddle or a spoon White flowers with a yellow center that bloom all year round Flowers are fragrant and often used in leis or …
A29 SNOWBUSH (Breyenia disticha) Phyllanthaceae family Snowbush is a tropical native to the Pacific Islands, where it is often used as a hedge plant. Has red zig zag stems and colorful variegated leaves that can be green, white, pink, red or purple Flowers are small and green, and not very showy Grows best in full sun to part shade, and …
A28 WINGLEAF SOAPBERRY (Sapindus saponaria) Sapindaceae family A tropical tree that produces fruits that can be used as a natural soap. Native to many parts of the Americas, including Hawai’i, where it is called manele or a’e. Fruits contain saponins, which are compounds that create a foamy lather when mixed with water In the past they were used in Mexico …
A27 DWARF HELICONIA (Heliconia stricta huber) Heliconiaceae family Large green leaves and bright red bracts that resemble lobster claws Red bracts hold many small flowers that attract hummingbirds Can grow up to 3 meters tall in the wild