Plants and Food
(If you wish to act on any of the information on this website, you must consult with a healthcare professional. Do not try to be your own doctor)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Pipturus spp.
PLANT NAME: Pipturus spp.
COMMON NAMES: Mämaki, mämake, waimea [Hawai'i]; ro'a [Tahiti].
FAMILY: Urticaceae (nettles family).
TOXICITY: None noted.
CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: None noted.
STATUS IN HAWAI'I: Endemic. Mämaki is an endemic plant appropriate for use because it is not rare or endangered.
RANGE: Polynesia.
HABITAT: Likes it wet. Often occurs as part of the under-story in native or mixed forest, particularly along streambeds.
NOTES 'N QUOTES
• Two endemic butterflies, the Kamehameha butterfly and the Blackburn butterfly feed on mämaki.
• There are four species of mämaki in Hawai'i, although all are very similar, both in appearance and in medicinal use. What is sometimes referred to as "green mämaki" is not mämaki at all but 'äkölea (Boehmeria grandis), whose medicinal uses are different than that of mämaki.
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Much of this information is through the grace oand kindness of my
Hawaiian and Chinese teachers and my gratitude goes out to
them. Any errors are mine alone.
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