Waltheria indica var. americana

leaf Main Plant Information

Genus

Waltheria

Species

indica

Varieties

  • americana

Hawaiian Names with Diacritics

  • Hala ʻuhaloa
  • Hiʻaloa
  • Kanakaloa
  • ʻAlaʻala pū loa
  • ʻUhaloa

Hawaiian Names

  • Alaala pu loa
  • Hala uhaloa
  • Hialoa
  • Kanakaloa
  • Uhaloa

Common Names

  • Sleepy morning

Synonyms

  • Waltheria americana
  • Waltheria pyrolaefolia

leaf Plant Characteristics

Distribution Status

Indigenous

Endangered Species Status

No Status

Plant Form / Growth Habit

  • Partially Woody / Shrub-like
  • Sprawling Shrub

Mature Size, Height (in feet)

  • Shrub, Dwarf, Less than 2
  • Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
  • Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10

Life Span

Short lived (Less than 5 years)

Landscape Uses

  • Container

Additional Landscape Use Information

While most people would never use this ubiquitous native plant in a landscape, it is usually seen in Hawaiian herb gardens in containers or in the ground since it was and still is medicinally valuable in Hawaiian culture.

Source of Fragrance

  • Flowers

Plant Produces Flowers

Yes

leaf Flower Characteristics

Flower Type

Not Showy

Flower Colors

  • Yellow

Additional Flower Color Information

Tiny yellow flowers resembling minature hibiscus or ʻilima flowers.

Blooming Period

  • Year Round

leaf Leaf Characteristics

Plant texture

  • Fine

Additional Plant Texture Information

Leaves are generally fuzzy.

Leaf Colors

  • Gray / Silverish
  • Light Green

leaf Pests and Diseases

Additional Pest & Disease Information

Mealy bugs

leaf Growth Requirements

Fertilizer

If grown in the ground, none is necessary. Though if fertilzed the plants will be more robust.

Pruning Information

Non required.

Water Requirements

  • Dry
  • Moist

Soil must be well drained

Yes

Light Conditions

  • Full sun
  • Partial sun

Tolerances

  • Drought
  • Wind
  • Salt Spray
  • Heat

Soils

  • Clay
  • Sand
  • Cinder
  • Organic

leaf Environmental Information

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)
  • Less than 150, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
  • 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
  • 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
  • 2000 to 2999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 3000 to 3999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
  • 3000 to 3999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
  • 4000 to 4999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
  • 4000 to 4999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)

Habitat

  • Terrestrial

Additional Habitat Information

ʻUhaloa is found from sea level to just over 4,000 ft. on all the main Hawaiian Islands and on Midway Atoll (Pihemanu) in the Northwest Islands mostly in dry, sometimes moist, locations.

leaf Special Features and Information

General Information

ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) belongs to the Malavaceae or Mallow family, sometimes placed in Sterculiaceae, or Cacao family. The genus Waltheria has some 60 species, 53 of which are from the Neotropics (the Americas). Two species are native to the Hawaiian Islands.

The critically endangered or possibly extinct Waltheria pyrolifolia is endemic to a restricted area on Maui. [4]

Etymology

The generic name Waltheria is named for botanist Augustin Friedrich Walther (1688-1746), a professor from Leipzig, Germany.

The specific epithet indica is from the Latin name for India (or perhaps the Orient).

The varietal name americana is Latin for the Americas or America.

Hawaiian Names:

ʻAlaʻala pū loa, hala ʻuhaloa, hiʻaloa, kanakaloa are all alternate names for the commonly used ʻuhaloa.

ʻAlaʻala pū loa literally means "a wild-goose chase."

Hiʻaloa also means "bald temple."

Kanakaloa is the name used by early medical practioners (kahuna lapaʻau) for ʻuhaloa. It literally means "tall person."

Background Information

Though this is a native plant, people generally consider ʻuhaloa a weed.

Early Hawaiian Use

Medicinal:

ʻUhaloa was used medicinally for asthma, neuralgia, and a pain killer when mixed with other plants. [1]

Canoe Construction:

Leaves were pounded and used for filling in cracks on canoes instead of pitch. [7]

Modern Use

Medicinally, in the Hawaiian Islands ʻuhaloa is still used even if other traditional plants are not always in use. [6] When mixed with certain other plants ʻuhaloa is used for sore throats, bronchial infections, and asthma. [1,2] The bitter roots are used much like aspirin is today. [2]

This plant is used throughout the Americas. One reference source outlines the importance of Walthera indica: "A tropical shrub, the whole plant (roots, leaves, buds and flowers) is used against chronic asthma. This plant has anti inflammatory and antifungal properties. Other uses include: cortex (root bark); chewed as a very effective natural medicine for sore throat. Internally for arthritis, neuralgia, common cold, cough, bronchial phlegm or mucous, diarrhea, eye baths, fatigue; used as a bitter tonic." [5]

Additional References

[1] "Medicine at Your Feet: Healing Plants of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Volume 1" by David Bruce Leonard, page 186.

[2] "In Gardens of Hawaii" by Marie C. Neal, page 575.

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotropic_ecozone [Accessed 09/15/11]

[4] "Resurrection of the Maui Endemic Waltheria pyrolifolia (Sterculiaceae, Hermannieae)" by Janice G. Saunders, pages 76-85.

[5] http://www.tropilab.com/waltheriatincture.html [Accessed 09/15/11]

[6] "Lāʻau Hawaiʻi, Traditional Hawaiian Uses of Plants" by Isabella Abbott, pages 99, 101.

[7] “Revised List of Hawaiian Names of Plants Native and Introduced” by Joseph F. Rock. Transcribed and annotated by Samuel M. ‘Ohukani‘ōhi‘a Gon III, page 410.

 

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