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Useful Tropical Plants

Pipturus albidus

A.Gray ex H.Mann

Urticaceae


A very variable species, it has been divided into as many as ten different species by some authorities[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
].

+ Synonyms

Boehmeria albida Hook. & Arn.

Pipturus brighamii Skottsb.

Pipturus eriocarpus Skottsb.

Pipturus gaudichaudianus Wedd.

Pipturus hawaiiensis H.Lév.

Pipturus helleri Skottsb.

Pipturus oahuensis Skottsb.

Pipturus pachyphyllus Skottsb.

Pipturus pterocarpus Skottsb.

Pipturus rockii Skottsb.

Pipturus skottsbergii Krojina

Pipturus taitensis Wedd.

Common Name: Mamaki

Pipturus albidus
Growing plant
Photograph by: David Eickhoff
Creative Commons License
Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus Pipturus albidus

General Information

Mamaki is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing 3 - 10 metres tall[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
].
The fibres obtained from the stems were traditionally used to make a fine cloth, cordage etc. The plant also yields food and medicines. It is one of the very few Hawaiian plants that are available commercially as a tea[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Western Pacific - Hawaii.

Habitat

Mesic to wet forest, diverse mesic forest, mesic valleys at elevations from sea level to 1,870 metres[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
,
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
]. Requires a moist to wet, but well-drained soil[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].
Plants flower and produce seed all year round[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].
Young plants can commence bearing fruit when only two years old from seed[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
].
The flowers are either male or female. Both types are usually found on each plant, but occasional plants produce either all male or all female flowers[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
].

Edible Uses

White fruits resembling small raspberries are produced along the branches. These are edible but bland to subtly sweet[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

The leaves are used to make a mild but invigorating and healthy tea[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

Medicinal

The leaves are made into a tea and used as a cleansing agent and tonic for a generally 'run-down' person[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
].

The small white fruits are used as a mild laxative for children[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].
Applied externally, the fruit has been used in healing sores and wounds[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

The seeds are given to infants for general debility of the body[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

The fruits and seeds are eaten during the later months of pregnancy in order to ease the birth[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

A tea made from the dried or fresh leaves is mild but invigorating. It is used to treat listlessness, and to help with many internal disorders, such as for the stomach, colon, bladder, liver, and bowels[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

Other Uses

The inner bark fibres are used in making kapa cloth[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
,
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
,
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The sap was also sometimes used in a wetting solution during the kapa-making process[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
]. Kapa was made by removing a section of the bark and then beating it thinner and thinner with a wooden mallet on a flat surface until eventually a fine cloth used for clothing was produced[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The long strong fibres were used for rope and cordage[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
].

The wood has been used to make clubs and kapa beaters[
436
Title
Native Plants Hawaii
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a fine, moist, well-compacted potting medium[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
]. The tiny seeds need to be removed from the fruit pulp before planting. Ripen the fruit in a plastic bag to soften the pulp then the seeds can be removed from the pulp more easily. This can be done by rubbing the fruits in a strainer under running water, or by manually crushing the fruits in a bowl of water to separate the seeds from the pulp. The viable seeds will sink and the fruit pulp and other debris can be poured off. Rinse the seeds a few times and pour a mixture of water and seeds on the surface of moist, fine textured, well-compacted medium[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
]. Keep the containers in a partially shady location and keep the medium moist. The seeds should begin to germinate in 2 - 3 weeks[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
].
Cuttings, 10 - 15cm long[
417
Title
Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/index.asp
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details on over 100 species of Hawaiian plants.
]. Easy according to some reports, difficult according to others[
399
Title
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Detailed information on the propagation of a wide range of Hawaiian plants.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pipturus+albidus>

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