5ef89169044587147f624338eb9ad993

TitleHeliotropium anomalum var. argenteum
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Rating3
VettedTrusted
Description
Hinahina or Hinahina kū kahakai Boraginaceae The variety is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands Lāʻie, Oʻahu  When the leaves of koʻokolau (Bidens spp.) were not available, the leaves of hinahina kū hakai were brewed as a tea and believed to be a tonic by early Hawaiians. Dried leaves were used in treatment of diabetes. Too, the leaves along with alena (Boerhavia spp.) were pounded together, water added, and drunk for curing pāʻaoʻao (childhood disease, with physical weakening), ʻea (thrush), and naeʻoikū (severe asthma).  The fragrant white flowers and the succulent leaves were used, providing a long-lived attractive lei by the ancient Hawaiians.  Hinahina kū hakai was adopted in 1923 as the official flower and lei material for Kahoʻolawe, which is strange since it is not naturally found there, though it may have been in the past.  Still, it is a beautiful natural and native component of haku. Today, the readily available non-native Spanish moss (Tillandsia unsneoides), also called hinahina, is usually substituted in haku.  NPH00008 nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Heliotropium_anomalum_...
Original URLhttps://farm2.staticflickr.com/1091/5188040062_0a899b94b8_o.jpg
photographerDavid Eickhoff
providerFlickr: EOL Images
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith