Pleomele is a former genus of flowering plants. All its species are now placed in the genus Dracaena. The Hawaiian name for plants in this genus is hala pepe, which translates to crushed or dwarfed Pandanus tectorius.
Former species Pleomele angustifolia (Medik.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia Pleomele atropurpurea (Roxb.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica Pleomele aurea H.Mann – golden hala pepe (Kauai) = Dracaena aurea Pleomele australasica Ridl. = Dracaena angustifolia Pleomele auwahiensis H.St.John – Maui Nui hala pepe (Maui, Molokai) = Dracaena rockii Pleomele elliptica (Thunb. & Dalm.) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica Pleomele fernaldii H.St.John – Lānai hala pepe (Lānai) = Dracaena fernaldii Pleomele flexuosa (Blume) N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia Pleomele forbesii O.Deg. – Waianae hala pepe (Oahu) = Dracaena forbesii Pleomele fruticosa (K.Koch) N.E.Br. =Dracaena angustifolia Pleomele gracilis (Baker) N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica Pleomele halapepe H.St.John – Oahu hala pepe (Oahu) = Dracaena halapepe Pleomele hawaiiensis O.Deg. & I.Deg – Hawaii hala pepe (Island of Hawaii) = Dracaena konaensis
Uses Medicinal Native Hawaiians combined the bark and leaves of hala pepe with the root bark of uhaloa (Waltheria indica) and popolo (Solanum americanum), and a section of kō kea (Saccharum officinarum) to treat high fever and chills. Hala pepe bark, roots, and leaves were combined with ōhia ai (Syzygium malaccense) bark, uhaloa and popolo taproot bark, alaala wai nui pehu (Peperomia spp.) stems, noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit, kō kea, niu (coconuts, Cocos nucifera), and pia (Tacca leontopetaloides) to treat lung disorders.
Non-medicinal The soft wood of the trunk was carved by Native Hawaiians into kiʻi. Hala pepe represented the goddess Kapo on the kuahu (altar) within a hālau hula (building which hula was taught or performed). It along with ieie (Freycinetia arborea), maile (Alyxia oliviformis), ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and palapalai (Microlepia strigosa) were the five essential plants at the hula altar.
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