Pleomele (genus)


Pleomele is a genus of flowering plants, sometimes placed in the genus Dracaena. In the APG III classification system, both genera are placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. The Hawaiian name for plants in this genus is hala pepe, which translates to crushed or dwarfed Pandanus tectorius.

Species

Medicinal

combined the bark and leaves of hala pepe with the root bark of uhaloa and popolo, and a section of kō kea to treat high fever and chills. Hala pepe bark, roots, and leaves were combined with ōhia ai bark, uhaloa and popolo taproot bark, alaala wai nui pehu stems, noni fruit, kō kea, niu, and pia to treat lung disorders.

Non-medicinal

The soft wood of the trunk was carved by Native Hawaiians into kii. Hala pepe represented the goddess Kapo on the kuahu within a hālau hula. It along with ieie, maile, ōhia lehua and palapalai were the five essential plants at the hula altar.