Plant – Mamaki

Māmaki

Description: Small shrub/tree with very hard wood and big rounded green leaves that grow up to 10 m tall.

ʻōlelo mua (Introduction):

Inoa(Name):

  • Scientific – Pipturus albidus
  • Hawaiian – Mamaki

ʻOhana: Part of Urticaceae family

Kūlana olakino(Status): Endemic

Lāʻau lapaʻau(Medicinal Use):

  • For treatment of sore throat of children and disease use part of the mamaki fruit and the leaves are made into a tea or as a cleansing agent.

Ways it was Used:

  • The inner bark fibers are used in making kapa
  • The sap might have been used in wetting solution during kapa–making.
  • The long strong fibers were used for rope and cordage.

Kino lau(Many Forms taken by Supernatural body): None

mamaki photo