Pleomele (genus)

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 Nicholas [Edward Brown|N.E.Br.] = Dracaena angustifolia
Pleomele atropurpurea N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
Pleomele aurea H.Mann – golden hala pepe > = Dracaena aurea
Pleomele australasica Henry [Nicholas Ridley|Ridl.] = Dracaena angustifolia
Pleomele auwahiensis Harold [St. John|H.St.John] – Maui Nui hala pepe = Dracaena rockii
Pleomele elliptica N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
Pleomele fernaldii H.St.John – Lānai hala pepe = Dracaena fernaldii
Pleomele flexuosa N.E.Br. = Dracaena angustifolia
Pleomele forbesii O.Deg. – Waianae hala pepe = Dracaena forbesii
Pleomele fruticosa N.E.Br. =Dracaena angustifolia
Pleomele gracilis N.E.Br. = Dracaena elliptica
Pleomele halapepe H.St.John – Oahu hala pepe = Dracaena halapepe
Pleomele hawaiiensis O.Deg. & I.Deg – Hawaii hala pepe = ''Dracaena konaensis''

Uses

Medicinal

combined the bark and leaves of hala pepe with the root bark of uhaloa and popolo, and a section of kō kea to treat high fever and chills. Hala pepe bark, roots, and leaves were combined with ōhia ai bark, uhaloa and popolo taproot bark, alaala wai nui pehu stems, noni fruit, kō kea, niu, and pia to treat lung disorders.

Non-medicinal

The soft wood of the trunk was carved by Native Hawaiians into kii. Hala pepe represented the goddess Kapo on the kuahu within a hālau hula. It along with ieie, maile, ōhia lehua and palapalai were the five essential plants at the hula altar.