`Awapuhi `inikini po`o

This member of the awapuhi family is also known as the Indian head ginger or Red button ginger. It is native to Mesoamerica. In the Hawaiian language `awapuhi refers to the wild ginger, `inikini is the term for "Indian," and po`o refers to the head.

The broad, elliptical long leaves of the `Awapuhi `inikini po`o are glossy green. They spiral around the thick upright stem which can grow to about 3' high. The flowering head of the `Awapuhi `inikini po`o is made up of waxy bright red bracts that tightly overlap. The real flower, however is the reddish-orange one that appears between the bracts towards the top. Although it flowers through most of the year, the edible flower lasts only a day.

An interesting note is that when ants harvest the extrafloral sweet nectar of the awapuhi, they are also protecting the bracts from potential egg-laying insects.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• Ornamental
• Whole plant used to treat high blood pressure, ear infections, fever and coughs (Malaysia)