 Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawai`i Home - Intro - Contents - Bibliography - Links - Credits `Ape - `Awa - `Awapuhi - Hau - Ipu - Kalo - Kamani - Ki - Ko - Kou - Kukui - Mai`a Milo - Niu - Noni - `Ohe - `Ohi`a `Ai - `Olena - Olona - Pia - `Uala - Uhi - `Ulu - Wauke |
Sometimes called "Elephant's Ear",`ape (pronounced ah-pay), is related to and resembles a large taro plant. In contrast to taro, whose leaves point earth-ward, the larger heart-shaped leaves of `ape tend to point upward, adding to its height. The shiny green leaves can grow up to 2-4 feet long by 2 feet wide. Some varieties have patches of white. `Ape's leaf stems may be green or a whitish color and reach up to 4 1/2 feet long. The trunk of this plant is ringed and is often 3-4 inches thick in diameter, rising as high as 4-8 feet. It is used in modern times as a landscaping plant due to its tropical appearance and ability to provide shade in a garden.`Ape thrives in a slightly moist and shady location with well composted soil.
| `Ai no i ka `ape he mane`o no ka nuku.
He who eats `ape is bound to have his mouth itch. He who indulges in some thing harmful will surely reap the result! |
Originating in southern Asia, `ape (Alocasia macrorrhiza, Xanthosoma robustum) grows throughout the Pacific and was brought by Polynesian voyagers as roots in their canoes to Hawai`i over 1500 years ago. The plant figures in Hawaiian legends as well as in those of Rarotonga. `Ape was used as an ingredient in a dye used to color ipu/gourds.
Medicinally, the juice from freshly cut stems can be an antidote on the skin to itchy stinging plants such as ko/sugar cane and nettle. In the old days, the leaves of `ape and of ti were used to wrap a fevered person for comfort, and because it was said the bitter sap of `ape would frighten away negative spirits.
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Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawai`i Home Intro - Contents - Bibliography - Links - Credits
`Ape -
`Awa -
`Awapuhi -
Hau -
Ipu -
Kalo -
Kamani -
Ki -
Ko -
Kou -
Kukui -
Mai`a |