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Nothocestrum

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Nothocestrum
Broadleaf ʻaiea
(Nothocestrum latifolium)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Subfamily: Solanoideae
Tribe: Physaleae
Genus: Nothocestrum
A.Gray[1]
Species

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Nothocestrum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It contains four species of large shrubs or small trees that are endemic to Hawaii, where they are known as ʻaiea. [2]

Species

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Medicinal use

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The leaves, bark, and tap root of Nothocestrum spp. were used to make infusions applied topically to treat abscesses, the plant parts being pounded, mixed with water, strained, heated with hot rocks, and cooled before application. The same plant parts were also made into a liquid medicine taken internally to treat abscesses. This medicine also contained ‘ohi‘a bark (Metrosideros spp.), moa holo kula (Psilotum nudum) and kō honua‘ula (red/purple sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum).[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Nothocestrum A.Gray". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  2. ^ "ʻaiea, halena". Hawaiian Ethnobotany Database. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  3. ^ "Bishop Museum - Ethnobotany Database".
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