Pipturus albidus
Pipturus albidus, known as māmaki in Hawaiian and known as Waimea pipturus in English, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family, Urticaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits coastal mesic, mixed mesic, and wet forests at elevations of. Māmaki is a small tree that reaches a height of and a trunk diameter of.Uses
Medicinal
made a treatment for illnesses known as ea and pāaoao from the fruit. They also combined fresh māmaki leaves with hot stones and spring water to produce herbal tea that was an effective treatment for general debility. Tea made from the leaves of this plant have antiviral properties, antibacterial properties, and antioxidants such as catechins, chlorogenic acid, and rutin It also contains anticancer and chemopreventive properties. Today, packages of dried māmaki leaves are commercially produced.Non-medicinal
The bast fibres were used by Native Hawaiians to make kapa and kaula.Ecology
Pipturus albidus is known to attract the Kamehameha butterfly and Koa butterfly as its nectar is sweet. The Kamehameha butterfly eggs thrived on this plant in regard to both size and performance.