Capparis sandwichiana

Description:

Maiapio, Pua pilo or Hawaiian caperCapparidaceae (Caper family)Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (found inland in dry areas on all the main islands and on Midway Atoll (Pihemanu), Pearl & Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua) and Laysan (Kau) in the Northwest Islands)Status: VulnerableOahu (Cultivated)Flowerwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/8708471746/in/photolist-...Hawaiian Names:The Hawaiian name maiapilo means "bad smelling banana," likely referring to the scent of banana on some parts of the plant and especially the fruit. The flowers, though, have a wonderful lemony fragrance!The early Hawaiian common people on Niihau referred to the native caper as pilo or puapili, while the chiefs called it maia a Maui, literally "banana of Maui." But, perhaps the most recognized name today is maiapilo.Maiapilo was apparently used medicinally for healing fractured or broken bones by early Hawaiians. The whole plant would be pounded and applied to body joints, never to the injured area. The milky sap mixed with other ingredients was applied externally to treat boils.EtymologyThe generic name Capparis is from kappari (k), the ancient Greek name for this evergreen shrub.The specific epithet sandwichiana refers to the "Sandwich Islands," as the Hawaiian Islands were once called, and named by James Cook on one of his voyages in the 1770s. James Cook named the islands after John Montagu (The fourth Earl of Sandwich) for supporting Cook's voyages.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Capparis_sandwichiana