| Pua keni keni | |
|---|---|
) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Gentianaceae |
| Genus: | Fagraea |
| Species: | F. berteroana |
| Binomial name | |
| Fagraea berteroana A.Gray ex Benth. | |
| Synonyms | |
| Fagraea berteriana (orth. var.) | |
)
)
Fagraea berteroana (orth. variant F. berteriana), commonly known as the pua keni keni, pua kenikeni or perfume flower tree, is a small spreading tree or a large shrub which grows in the sub-tropics, where temperatures are 10 °C or more. It is indigenous to the Samoa Islands where it is known as the pua-lulu and occurs from New Caledonia to eastern Polynesia.[1] The ITIS database clarifies the spelling of the name ("Published as "berteriana" in honor of Bertero; correctable to "berteroana,"..).[2]
Description
The plant has quad-angular branches, blunt tipped leaves, and fragrant 7 cm tubular shaped flowers of creamy white, which become yellow with time.
Cultural use
The flowers are popular for making lei. The tree's name, in Hawaiian, means "ten cent flower", referring to the sale price for a lei made from them in the past.
References
- ^ Whistler, W. Arthur (1978). "Vegetation of the montane region of Savai'i" (PDF). Pacific Science. University Press of Hawai'i. 32 (1): 89. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ ITIS database entry for Fagraea berteroana
- Pukui & Elbert, Hawaiian dictionary