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Cordyline fruticosa, Agavaceae, ti, ki. A woody stemmed
candelabra shrub from SE Asia with large green or reddish or brightly variegated leaves,
brought to Hawaii by migrating Polynesians. The leaves were used for a variety of
purposes, including thatching, rain coats, food wrapping, and hula skirts. The Hawaiians
used the root to make a beverage of low alcoholic content. After Cook's time, British
sailors taught them how to make a more potent drink (okolehao). Location: St. John
courtyard; along road, Diamond Head side of Hemenway. |
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Couroupita guianensis, Lecythidaceae, cannonball tree.
Tree from
Guiana with large, fragrant flowers borne on long tangled
stems on main trunk below the
foliage branches. Fruits spherical, cannon ball sized. Location: Makai of
visitor's
parking kiosk, Ewa-mauka of Bachman. |
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Crescentia cujete, Bignoniaceae, calabash tree. Small tree from
tropical America with tufted leaves 2-6 inches long, and irregularly bell-shaped,
two-inch-long, yellowish flowers sometimes veined with purple. The fruit may be up to a foot in
diameter, and while initially heavy with wet pulp and seeds, dries hard, remains smooth,
and becomes quite light. These may be cut and used as receptacles or may be used intact as
hula rattles. The fruits can be shaped during growth by tying string
around them when young. The flowers open in the evening and are
bat-pollinated where native. The first two flowers were photographed
just after opening at late dusk while the third was photographed at
mid-day. Location: Makai side of Campus Center. |
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Crinum asiaticum, Liliaceae, grand crinum. Large-leaved,
short-stemmed herb from tropical Asia, with showy clusters of large white flowers elevated
on leafless stalks. Used in medicine in Asia. Location: Diamond Head side of Henke; along
road between Campus Center and Hemenway. |
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Crinum amabile, giant spider lily. Location:
Perimeter of Hawaii Hall. |
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Cupressus sempervirens, Cupressaceae, Italian cypress. Striking,
columnar form of one species in a genus of about 22 evergreen trees or shrubs from Europe,
Asia, and North America with very small, scalelike leaves, very small male cones, and
globose female cones commonly about an inch in diameter. Cupressus guadalupensis S.
Wats. (Guadalupe cypress), C. lusitanica Mill. (Mexican cypress), and C.
macrocarpa Hartweg (Monterey cypress) are commonly planted as ornamentals in Hawaii.
Location: University Ave., makai of Maile Way; Mauka side of Auxiliary Services. |
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Cyanthillium cinereum, Asteraceae, little
or Asian ironweed, purple fleabane. Slender herbaceous weed from tropical
Asia with very small lavender to purplish heads. Location: Disturbed sites, flower beds. |
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Cycas circinalis, Cycadaceae, sago palm. Stout palm-like tree
from India to the Philippines with leaves up to two feet wide and nine feet long that are
cut into many segments like a feather. Male plants bear cones that are about two feet long
and five inches in diameter. Female plants bear modified leaves that have 6-10 large naked
seeds along the edges. The seeds are poisonous when raw but may be ground into flower for
bread. The trunks also yield sago, which is high in starch content, but has been reported
to be carcinogenic. Location: St. John courtyard. |
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Cyperus papyrus, Cyperaceae, papyrus. Giant sedge from stream
banks in Africa, used earlier than 3600 B.C. in Egypt, and from about 2500 B.C. in Syria
and S. Europe. Cultivated as a source of paper until about 1100 A.D. The roots and stems
were also eaten raw or cooked. Grown ornamentally in Hawaii today. Location: St. John
courtyard. |
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Delonix regia, Caesalpiniaceae, royal poinciana, flame tree,
'ohai-'ula. Small to mid-sized tree from Madagascar, with a flat to umbrella-shaped canopy
and brilliant, orange-red flowers, commonly planted as a street tree. Location:
Makai-Ewa
of Kuykendall; Maile Way, near campus entrance; along Wilder near Punahou;
Horace Clay, between makai-diamond head entrance to Hamilton Library and
Paradise Palms. |
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Dendrobium sp., Orchidaceae, dendrobium. An epiphytic orchid
genus of about 900 species from tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and Pacific
islands. The stems are generally long and jointed; the leaves short and thick; the flowers
medium sized with parts all similar. Location: Honolulu gardens. |
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Desmodium incanum, Fabaceae, Spanish clover. Weedy herb from
tropical America with three leaflets per leaf, small pink to purplish flowers and pods
that separate into l-seeded units that attach firmly to clothing by way of minute, hooked
hairs. Location: Weedy disturbed sites, e.g. Ewa of Pope Lab and makai-Diamond Head of
Newman Center, near mauka end of Parking Zone 6. |
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Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Commelinaceae, blue ginger. Herb from
Brazil with thick, weak stems to three feet or more in length bearing tight clusters of
deep blue-purple flowers, each flower about half an inch or more in diameter. Location:
Makai plantings, St. John. |
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Dieffenbachia sp., Araceae, dieffenbachia, dumb cane. Attractive
foliage plant from tropical America, commonly grown as an indoor potted plant in temperate
areas, often planted outside in Hawaii. Many varieties and species are grown, including
variegated forms. The common name alludes to loss of voice that may be caused by chewing
and ingestion of any parts of the plant. Serious inflammation of the mucous lining of the
entire gastrointestinal tract may be caused by the needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate
common in this and other members of the Araceae. The same problem can be caused by at
least some varieties of taro if it is not cooked. Location: Makai court of Porteus; Krauss
Hall patio. |
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Dietes bicolor, Iridaceae, African iris. Low herbaceous ornamental from Africa
with the sword-like leaves in one plane. The showy flowers are yellow with three brownish
spots at the base. Location: St. John courtyard; makai of Post Office, near Student
Services. |
