Pleomele is a former genus of flowering plants. All its species are now placed in the genus Dracaena. [1] [2] [3] The Hawaiian name for plants in this genus is hala pepe, which translates to crushed or dwarfed Pandanus tectorius. [4]
Former species
- Pleomele angustifolia ( Medik.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele atropurpurea ( Roxb.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
- Pleomele aurea H.Mann - golden hala pepe ( Kauaʻi) [5] = Dracaena aurea
- Pleomele australasica Ridl. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele auwahiensis H.St.John - Maui Nui hala pepe ( Maui, Molokaʻi) = Dracaena rockii
- Pleomele elliptica ( Thunb. & Dalm.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
- Pleomele fernaldii H.St.John - Lānaʻi hala pepe ( Lānaʻi) = Dracaena fernaldii
- Pleomele flexuosa ( Blume) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele forbesii O.Deg. - Waiʻanae hala pepe ( Oʻahu) = Dracaena forbesii
- Pleomele fruticosa ( K.Koch) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele gracilis ( Baker) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
- Pleomele halapepe H.St.John - Oʻahu hala pepe (Oʻahu) = Dracaena halapepe
- Pleomele hawaiiensis O.Deg. & I.Deg - Hawaiʻi hala pepe ( Island of Hawaiʻi) [5] [6] = Dracaena konaensis
Uses
Medicinal
Native Hawaiians combined the bark and leaves of hala pepe with the root bark of ʻuhaloa ( Waltheria indica) and popolo ( Solanum americanum), and a section of kō kea ( Saccharum officinarum) to treat high fever and chills. Hala pepe bark, roots, and leaves were combined with ʻōhiʻa ʻai ( Syzygium malaccense) bark, ʻuhaloa and popolo taproot bark, ʻalaʻala wai nui pehu ( Peperomia spp.) stems, noni ( Morinda citrifolia) fruit, kō kea, niu ( coconuts, Cocos nucifera), and pia ( Tacca leontopetaloides) to treat lung disorders. [5]
Non-medicinal
The soft wood of the trunk was carved by Native Hawaiians into kiʻi. Hala pepe represented the goddess Kapo on the kuahu (altar) within a hālau hula (building which hula was taught or performed). It along with ʻieʻie ( Freycinetia arborea), maile (Alyxia oliviformis), ʻōhiʻa lehua ( Metrosideros polymorpha) and palapalai ( Microlepia strigosa) were the five essential plants at the hula altar. [4]
References
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ a b Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998). "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest" (PDF). Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. p. 19.
- ^ a b c "hala pepe, ieie, kuhaʻo, ku la". Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Retrieved 2009-11-20. [ permanent dead link]
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb. hala pepe". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
Pleomele is a former genus of flowering plants. All its species are now placed in the genus Dracaena. [1] [2] [3] The Hawaiian name for plants in this genus is hala pepe, which translates to crushed or dwarfed Pandanus tectorius. [4]
Former species
- Pleomele angustifolia ( Medik.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele atropurpurea ( Roxb.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
- Pleomele aurea H.Mann - golden hala pepe ( Kauaʻi) [5] = Dracaena aurea
- Pleomele australasica Ridl. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele auwahiensis H.St.John - Maui Nui hala pepe ( Maui, Molokaʻi) = Dracaena rockii
- Pleomele elliptica ( Thunb. & Dalm.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
- Pleomele fernaldii H.St.John - Lānaʻi hala pepe ( Lānaʻi) = Dracaena fernaldii
- Pleomele flexuosa ( Blume) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele forbesii O.Deg. - Waiʻanae hala pepe ( Oʻahu) = Dracaena forbesii
- Pleomele fruticosa ( K.Koch) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
- Pleomele gracilis ( Baker) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
- Pleomele halapepe H.St.John - Oʻahu hala pepe (Oʻahu) = Dracaena halapepe
- Pleomele hawaiiensis O.Deg. & I.Deg - Hawaiʻi hala pepe ( Island of Hawaiʻi) [5] [6] = Dracaena konaensis
Uses
Medicinal
Native Hawaiians combined the bark and leaves of hala pepe with the root bark of ʻuhaloa ( Waltheria indica) and popolo ( Solanum americanum), and a section of kō kea ( Saccharum officinarum) to treat high fever and chills. Hala pepe bark, roots, and leaves were combined with ʻōhiʻa ʻai ( Syzygium malaccense) bark, ʻuhaloa and popolo taproot bark, ʻalaʻala wai nui pehu ( Peperomia spp.) stems, noni ( Morinda citrifolia) fruit, kō kea, niu ( coconuts, Cocos nucifera), and pia ( Tacca leontopetaloides) to treat lung disorders. [5]
Non-medicinal
The soft wood of the trunk was carved by Native Hawaiians into kiʻi. Hala pepe represented the goddess Kapo on the kuahu (altar) within a hālau hula (building which hula was taught or performed). It along with ʻieʻie ( Freycinetia arborea), maile (Alyxia oliviformis), ʻōhiʻa lehua ( Metrosideros polymorpha) and palapalai ( Microlepia strigosa) were the five essential plants at the hula altar. [4]
References
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ a b Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998). "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest" (PDF). Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. p. 19.
- ^ a b c "hala pepe, ieie, kuhaʻo, ku la". Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Retrieved 2009-11-20. [ permanent dead link]
- ^ "Pleomele Salisb. hala pepe". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2009-11-20.