170 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IV, July, 1950 
TABLE 1 
Scientific and Common Names of the Plants Tested, Their Systematic Relationships, 
and the Medicinal Uses to Which They Were Put 
(K & A = Kaaiakamanu and Akina, 1922; Deg. = Degener, 1930; Handy = Handy, Pukui, and 
Livermore, 1934; Neal = Neal, 1948) 
FAMILY 
SCIENTIFIC NAME 
OF SPECIES 
COMMON NAMES 
IN HAWAII 
TRADITIONAL USES AS 
MATERIA MEDICA 
Gracilariaceae 
Gracilaria furcellata 
seaweed; limu manauea 
sores, skin blotches, "cure for 
Mont. 
(?) 
miscarriage” (K & A: 62) 
Psilotaceae 
Psilotum nudum ( L. ) 
Griseb. 
upright Psilotum; moa 
thrush, diarrhoea in infants 
(Deg.: 20; Neal: 7) 
Gleicheniaceae 
Dicranopteris linearis 
(Burm. ) Underw. 
false staghorn fern; 
uluhe 
laxative (Deg.: 27) 
Polypodiaceae 
Nephrolepis biserrata 
related to Boston fern; 
not known (listed in Handy: 
( Sw. ) Schott. 
okupukupu 
44) 
Cibotium Chamissoi 
tree fern; hapu 
asthma, "lung troubles” (K&A: 
Kaulf. 
16) 
Pandanaceae 
Freycinetia arborea 
Gaud. 
climbing screwpine; ieie 
general debility, thrush, high 
fever (K&A: 22) 
Pandanus Rockii Mart. 
a screwpine, related to 
the hala of the 
Hawaiians 
hala was used for general debil- 
ity, constipation, "pain in 
chest” (K&A: 41); asthma 
(personal communication) 
Gramineae 
Bambusa sp. 
"small-leaved bamboo”; 
ohe laulii 
ulcers and scrofulous sores 
(K & A: 30) 
Coix lacryma-jobi L. 
Job’s tears; pu oheohe 
curative charm (Neal: 74) 
Saccharum officinarum 
L. 
sugar cane; ko kea 
cuts and wounds, urethritis (K 
& A: 6, 53); adjuvant 
(Handy: 21); pulmonary dis- 
ease (personal communica- 
tion) 
Setaria palmifolia 
(Willd.) Stapf 
palm grass 
use unknown; hearsay 
Stenotaphrum secunda- 
buffalo grass; akiaki, 
sores and ulcers on skin 
tum (Walt.) Ktze. 
manienie mahikihiki 
(K&A: 10) 
Cyperaceae 
Scirpus validus Vahl. 
great bulrush; aka’ akai 
naku, neki 
"gripping pain of the stomach 
or intestines, and for intesti- 
nal hemorrhages” (K & A: 
!°) 
general debility and cuts (K & 
A: 73); thrush (Handy: 22) 
Palmae 
Cocos nucifera L. 
coconut; niu 
Araceae 
Alocasia macrorrhiza 
(L. ) Sweet 
ape keokeo 
burns, stomach ache, aphrodis- 
iac (K&A: 17 ) 
Colocasia esculent a ( L. ) 
Schott. 
taro; kalo 
laxative (K&A: 17) 
Commelinaceae 
Commelina diffusa 
day flower; honohono, 
"purifying the blood” 
Burm. f. 
makolokolo 
(K & A: 71) 
Liliaceae 
Allium fistulosum L. 
green onion; aka’ akai 
tuberculosis, colds, and vener- 
eal diseases (K&A: 10) 
Cordyline terminalis 
( L. ) Kunth. var Ki 
( Schott. ) J. G. Baker 
ti, ki, lau’i 
asthma, congestion of lungs, 
high fever (K&A: 50) 
Dioscoreaceae 
Dioscorea alata L. 
yam; uhi 
high fever (K&A: 37) 
Musaceae 
Musa paradisiaca L. 
banana; mai’a 
asthma, general debility, stom- 
ssp. sapientum ( L. ) 
Ktze. var. 
ach disorders (K&A: 65— 
68); throat infection (per- 
sonal communication) 
