Hawaiian Name(s): pa‘iniu, kaluaha (A. meziesiana), pua‘akuhinia (A. menziesiana)

Scientific Name: Astelia (3 species)

Vernacular Name: none

Family: Liliaceae

Status: endemic

Authority: A. argyrocoma A.Heller ex Skottsb., A. menziesiana Sm., A. waialealea Wawra

Description: Perennial herbs, silvery-green leaves, berries orange to yellowish-orange.

Habitat A. argyrocoma and A. menziesiana are sometimes epiphitic in mesic to wet forests, A. waialealae from bogs on Kaua‘i (Wagner et al. 1990:1460–1461).

Medicines:

Non Medicinal Uses: The silvery leaf epidermis stripped and interwoven with other plants to make lei pa‘iniu (Degener 1930:100).

Specific gravity of wood: n/a

Famous Locations:

Mele:

`Ōlelo Noeau:

Dye Color and Parts:

Kino lau:

Location on Bishop Museum Kalihi Campus:

Propagation Information: Native Plants Hawaii.

Seed: Seed length approximately 1.8 mm. Photograph: B.Kennedy. Species: A. argyrocoma.
Click for image