Cordyline fruticosa
COMMON NAME | Green or Red Ti
Plant or cabbage tree |
TYPE | Shrub |
FAMILY | Asparagaceae |
NOTES | Typically grows as a
short tree or shrub to 10’ tall in its native habitat. Ti was originally brought here to Hawaii by
the ancient Polynesians in their canoes. Parts of the plants were used for
various medicinal purposes. The large, flexible, long-lasting leaves were
used as food wrappers, plates, cups, table coverings, rain capes, thatch,
clothes, hula skirts, sandals, and braided into leis. The leaves were also
used for various cultural, ceremonial, and religious purposes. The roots
(actually tuber-like rhizomes) were baked and eaten or fermented into
alcohol. Ti leaves are used as food
wrappers for cooking food in an imu, a Hawaiian underground pit oven used to
cook food for luaus (Hawaiian feasts). The sweet, starchy underground
rhizomes can be baked and eaten. |
GEOGRAPHIC REGION | Eastern Asia |
NATIVE HABITAT | Often abundant in various
types of forest (dry, dense, edges), on forested ridges, in thickets, and
sometimes near beaches. |
WEB SOURCES |
