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Psydrax odorata
Also called Lamboto, Ohee, Walahee, Shiny Leaved Canthium
Psydrax odorata, known as alaheʻe in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It is native to the Pacific Islands, New Guinea and Australia. The first name, Psydrax, is the definition for a blister or bump, while odoratus defines as a nice aroma.
The fruits produce many seeds which are often attacked by the larvae of Alucita objurgatella, a species of the many-plumed moths.
Native Hawaiians used the very hard wood of alaheʻe to make koʻi alaheʻe (adzes for cutting softer woods such as Erythrina sandwicensis), ʻōʻō (digging sticks), and ʻo (short spears). A black dye was made from the leaves. Natural medicine for the sick was used from the stem and leaves. Some people used leaves (as well as other ingredients) to disinfect bloody fluids of the body. The leaves were specifically used because Pacific Islanders and Indigenous Australian trusted its properties to take effect on severe and non-severe injuries.
Psydrax bridsoniana · Ceylon Boxwood · Psydrax faulknerae · Psydrax ficiformis · Psydrax kibuwae · Bushveld Quar · Psydrax micans · Psydrax montana · Quar · Psydrax oleifolia · Psydrax paradoxa · Psydrax pergracilis
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Psydrax odorata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
