Peperomia tetraphylla

Description:

Alaala wai nuiPiperaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsOahu (Cultivated)Early Hawaiians produced from the leaves and stems of Peperomia spp. a rich gray green dye called ahiahia, or puahia, made from the ashes was used for dying kapa (tapa) by the early Hawaiians.Medicinally, the juice was used as a tonic and for inner ear disorders. Various parts of the plants with other ingredients were used orally for fetid vaginal discharge, debilitating consumption, relapse after recovery from illness, severe asthma, and possibly for various stages of appendicitis.nativeplants.hawaii.edu