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Kawakawa (tree)
Encyclopedia
Kawakawa, Macropiper excelsum, is a small tree of which the subspecies M. excelsum subsp. excelsum is endemic
to New Zealand
; the subspecies M. excelsum subsp. psittacorum is found on Lord Howe Island
, Norfolk Island
and the Kermadec Islands
.
, and as far south as Okarito (43.20 °S) on the West Coast
and Banks Peninsula
(43.5 °S) on the east coast of the South Island
. The leaves are often covered with insect holes. The images depict the variety majus which has larger and more glossy leaves than M. excelsum. The name Kawakawa in Māori refers to the bitter taste of the leaves, from kawa bitter.
Kawakawa is a traditional medicinal plant of the Māori. An infusion is made from the leaves or roots, and used for bladder problems, boils, bruises, to relieve pain or toothache, or as a general tonic. The sweet edible yellow berries (most often found in summer on female trees) of the plant were eaten as a diuretic.
The leaves of this plant are used to make Titoki Liqueur which is exported to Japan, Australia, Fiji and the United Kingdom. The seeds of this plant are employed as a culinary spice and they could be commercially used for that purpose, as this tree is related to Piper nigrum (Black pepper) and it is grown as an ornamental plant
.
Host people of a marae
wave leaves of kawakawa to welcome guests, especially at tangi
. Both they and the guests may wear wreaths of kawakawa on the head as a sign of mourning.
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
; the subspecies M. excelsum subsp. psittacorum is found on Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, directly east of mainland Port Macquarie, and about from Norfolk Island. The island is about 11 km long and between 2.8 km and 0.6 km wide with an area of...
, Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
and the Kermadec Islands
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga...
.
Description
It is found throughout the North IslandNorth Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, and as far south as Okarito (43.20 °S) on the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
and Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
(43.5 °S) on the east coast of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. The leaves are often covered with insect holes. The images depict the variety majus which has larger and more glossy leaves than M. excelsum. The name Kawakawa in Māori refers to the bitter taste of the leaves, from kawa bitter.
Uses
The leaves of this plant are used to make Titoki Liqueur which is exported to Japan, Australia, Fiji and the United Kingdom. The seeds of this plant are employed as a culinary spice and they could be commercially used for that purpose, as this tree is related to Piper nigrum (Black pepper) and it is grown as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
.
Host people of a marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
wave leaves of kawakawa to welcome guests, especially at tangi
Tangi
Tangi may refer to:*Tangi, Afghanistan*Tangi, Orissa in India*Tangi, Pakistan*Land Rover Tangi*Tangihanga, a Māori funeral rite...
. Both they and the guests may wear wreaths of kawakawa on the head as a sign of mourning.