Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis
Genus
Ipomoea
Species
pes-caprae
Subspecies
- brasiliensis
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Puhuehue
- Pōhuehue
Hawaiian Names
- Pohuehue
- Puhuehue
Common Names
- Bayhops
- Beach morning glory
- Goat foot
- Goat's foot
- Goats foot
- Railroad vine
Distribution Status
Indigenous
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Non-Woody, Spreading
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Grass-like, Tall, Greater than or equal to 2.5
Mature Size, Width
7 to 15 foot spread.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Erosion Control
- Ground Cover
Additional Landscape Use Information
Pōhuehue is a great plant for yards along a beach front properties.
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Showy
Flower Colors
- Pink
- White
Additional Flower Color Information
Pōhuehue has small pink to lavender flowers with purple centers. A white flowered form is known from Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island.
Blooming Period
- Year Round
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
Flowers last one day.
Plant texture
- Fine
- Medium
Additional Plant Texture Information
Pōhuehue leaves are about 2 to 4 or more inches long.
Leaf Colors
- Medium Green
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Vines are prone to sweet potato weevil and red spider mites.
Fertilizer
An application of a balanced slow release fertilize with minor elements every six months. Foliar feed monthly with kelp or fish emulsion, or a water-soluble fertilizer with a dilution of one half to one third of recommended strength. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Pruning Information
Can be aggressive in active growing period. Trim to confine in growing area.
Water Requirements
- Dry
Additional Water Information
Water them for two weeks then only in times of prolonged drought. Amend soil with cinder.
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
Spacing Information
Give pōhuehue vines room to spread. They will quickly fill in areas.
Tolerances
- Drought
- Wind
- Salt Spray
- Heat
Soils
- Sand
- Cinder
- Coral
Natural Range
- Niʻihau
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Kahoʻolawe
- Hawaiʻi
- Northwest Islands
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- Less than 150, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
Additional Habitat Information
This indigenous beach morning glory is found on sandy beaches and occasionally inland. It can also be found in lowland marshes. [2]
Special Features and Information
General Information
Pōhuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis) is a member of the Morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), which comprises some 1,650 species throughout the world.
Pōhuehue is related to some local notable eatables as ʻuala or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and ung-choi or swamp cabbage (Ipomoea aquatica).
Native Hawaiian family members include a bonamia (Bonamia menziesii), makihi (Cressa truxillensis), koali ʻai (Ipomoea cairica), hunakai (I. imperati), koali ʻawa (I. indica), Hawaiian moon flower (I. tuboides), pōhuehue (I. pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis), kauna ʻoa (Cuscuta sandwichiana), pāʻuohiʻiaka (Jacquemontia ovalifolia subsp. sandwicensis), and possibly the White-flowered beach morning glory (Ipomoea littoralis).
Etymology
The generic name Ipomoea is derived from the Greek ips, worm, and homoios, similar to, meaning worm-like, in reference to the twining habit.
The hyphenated specific epithet pes-caprae is from the Latin pes, foot, and caprae, goat, or literally "foot of a goat," in reference to the shape of the leaves similar to that of a goat's foot (hoof).
The subspecies brasiliensis is in reference to the country of Brazil (Brasil), part of its pantropic range.
Background Information
Surprisingly, some have labeled pōhuehue as a "weed." [4]
Early Hawaiian Use
Roots and leaves were used by Hawaiians of old as famine foods, but carthartic compounds makes its use DANGEROUS. Even so, a few of the young leaf buds (muʻo) were eaten by women just prior to giving birth to hasten delivery. [3,7]
The vines were also made into a type of bushy rope attached to each of the sticks on the bag net used in fishing. [1] Cordage was sometimes made from the pliable stems. [8]
The leafy vines were used as lei. [5]
Modern Use
The subspecies brasiliensis is known as salsa-da-praia in Brazil and used in traditional folk medicine. As just mentioned due to the carthartic compounds, it should be viewed as unsafe for internal use. [6]
Additional References
[1] "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" by Beatrice H. Krauss, pages 39, 41.
[2] "A Guide to Pacific Wetlands Plants" by Lani Stemmermann, page 82.
[3] "Native Planters in Old Hawaii--Their Life, Lore, & Environment" by E. S. Handy and Elizabeth Green Handy, pages 238, 240.
[4] "Handbook of Hawaiian Weeds" by E. L. Haselwood, page 310.
[5] "Nā Lei Makamae--The Treasured Lei" by Marie A. McDonald & Paul R. Weissich, pages 133-135.
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_pes-caprae [Accessed 12/13/10]
[7] "In Gardens of Hawaii" by Marie C. Neal, page 709.
[8] "Lāʻau Hawaiʻi: Traditional Hawaiian Uses of Plants" by Isabella Aiona Abbott, page 63.
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