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Clitoria ternatea, butterfly pea. Vine probably from Asia. The
bright blue flowers are used to dye rice and cloth in Malaysia; leaves are used to dye
food and for fodder. Location: Mauka of Pope Lab on fence between UH
and Mid Pac Inst. |
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Clusia rosea, Clusiaceae, autograph
tree, copey. West Indian
tree with stiff leaves that at one time were marked with numbers and design and used for
playing cards; when cut the leaves and fruit exude a bright yellow sap which is
used in
medicine. Location: Diamond Head of Bachman; Ewa-makai of Gartley. |
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Coccinia grandis, Cucurbitaceae, scarlet-fruited gourd.
Aggressive weedy vine from Africa, Asia, and Australia with tendrils, ivy-like leaves,
white bell-shaped flowers, and red fruit 1-21/2 inches long. Location: Edge of parking log
near mauka-Ewa corner of Hale Aulima. |
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Coccoloba uvifera, Polygonaceae, sea grape. Tree from tropical
America, grows along the coast. The wood is hard and is used for furniture work in the
Caribbean; also yields a red dye. The fruits are edible and are made into
jelly. Location:
Near parking lot of Keller Hall near Phys. Sci. Bldg. |
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Cochlospermum vitifolium, Bixaceae, buttercup tree. Tree from
tropical America with deeply palmately lobed leaves and bright yellow showy flowers up to
4 inches or more across. The trees on campus are a cultivar producing "doubled"
flowers with a compact mass of somewhat crumpled petals. The flowers fall from the tree
intact and litter the ground under the tree with bright yellow soggy
"pincushions." Location: Ewa side of Hamilton Snack Bar. |
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Cocos nucifera, Arecaceae, coconut, niu. Tall, slender,
attractive palm, apparently native to the South Pacific; probably brought to Hawaii by
early colonizing polynesians, who used virtually all parts of the plant for
one purpose or
another. It is still commercially important in the world marketplace for copra (dried
"meat" of "nut") and for its oil which is used in margarines, soap,
and cosmetic products. Location: Mauka of Food Science; Farrington St. parking area, Ewa
of Webster; makai side of Ag. Engr.; makai end of Krauss Circle; along fire road by motor
pool. |
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Codiaeum variegatum, Euphorbiaceae, croton. Ornamental shrub
from the south Pacific, grown for the attractive foliage which is available in many
brilliant colors. Close-ups of male (left) and female (right) flowers are
shown.
Location: Common on campus, e.g., Diamond Head side of Sinclair. |
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Coffea arabica, Rubiaceae, Arabian coffee. Shrub from tropical
Africa, brought to Hawaii by Don Marin in 1813; important commercially for its
red berries
which are fermented, dried, shelled, aged, roasted, ground, and used for
brewing the
popular drink. Location: Makai of Henke. |
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Colocasia esculenta, Araceae, taro, kalo. Herbaceous plant from
old world tropics, with thick tuber (underground stem)containing much starch; cultivated
for food for many centuries. Taro was brought to Hawaii by early migrating Polynesians as
the main food source. They had perhaps 300 varieties taro under cultivation at one time.
The leaves of many varieties were also eaten. Taro must be cooked to destroy the acrid
crystals of calcium oxalate found in all parts of the plant. Taro was so important that it
had great influence on the social and individual activities of the community. One obvious
ramification of taro cultivation involved water utilization. Such was the importance of
taro that it was considered the plant form (kino-lau)of the great god Kane, the giver of
life. Location: St. John courtyard; Ewa of Bilger; Mauka and Ewa of Hemenway. |
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Colvillea racemosa, Caesalpiniaceae, colvillea. Large tree from
Madagascar with large pinnate leaves and very conspicuous cylindrical or cone shaped
clusters of bright orange flowers that are bright red in bud. Location: Makai side of
Sherwood courtyard; Makai side of St. John. |
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Complaya trilobata (syn. Wedelia trilobata),
Asteraceae, wedelia. Creeping herb from
tropical America, with yellow flowering heads, commonly used for a ground cover. Location:
Mall area planters by Hamilton. |
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Cordia abyssinica, Boraginaceae, white cordia. Tree from
tropical Africa with oval leaves to 7 inches long and showy clusters of white, bell-shaped
flowers. The yellow fruits are about half an inch in diameter. Location: Makai side of St.
John near Diamond Head end. |
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Cordia dichotoma, Boraginaceae, Sebesten-plum.
Tree from Egypt and S Asia to N Australia; muscilaginous pulp of fruit
edible and sometimes used to treat coughs. Location: Diamond Head
side of Krauss near makai corner (near Dole St.); has volunteered at least
two other sites on campus. |
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Cordia sebestena, Boraginaceae, geiger tree. Tree from Florida
to the W. Indies, often a street planting in Hawaii. The leaves have a sandpaper texture
and the flowers are deep red-orange. Location: Mauka side of Campus Center.. |
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Cordia subcordata, Boraginaceae, kou. Tree introduced to Hawaii
from central Polynesia by early migrating Polynesians; commonly planted and sparingly
naturalized at low elevations. Prized by the Hawaiians for its beautiful wood, which was
crafted into calabashes, cups, and bowls. Differs from the preceeding species in having
smooth leaves and orange flowers. Location: Mauka-Ewa corner of Sinclair Library. |