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Nandina domestica, Berberidaceae sacred bamboo, nanten. Shrub, native to China
and Japan, wood very hard, sacred to Chinese. Location: On Spalding side of Hamilton Snack
Bar. |
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Neoregelia compacta, Bromeliaceae, blushing
bromeliad. Compact, erect herb to about 1 foot tall. Location:
Krauss Pond. |
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Neoregelia spectabilis, Bromeliaceae, fingernail plant. Erect herb from Brazil
with red-tipped leaves about one foot long and one and a half inches wide. Flowers blue.
Location: Krauss Pond. |
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Nephrolepis exaltata, Aspleniaceae, sword fern, kupukupu. Fern native to Hawaii
and widespread in the tropics with erect tufts of stiff, once pinnate fronds 2-5 feet long
and 3-6 inches broad on a short vertical stem. The spore bearing cases (sporangia) are in
circular clusters (sori) distributed in a row near each edge of the underside of leaflets.
Location: St. John courtyard. |
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Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae, oleander. Tall shrub from Persia to India, the
leaves in whorls of three, the flowers white, pink, or red. A common hedge plant of
medicinal value when used judiciously. However, the plant contains the potentially fatal
cardiac glycosides neriin and oleandrin. People have become ill or have died from using
the branches to skewer hot dogs for roasting over an open fire. Location: Large hedge
makai of Sinclair Library; Makai of Kuykendall; Makai of Miller. |
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Norantea guianensis, Marcgraviaceae, norantea. Shrub from South America with
bright orange to deep red "nectar pouches" near the flowers. In its native
habitat the plant is visited and pollinated by birds foraging for nectar. Location: near
mauka-Diamond Head corner of Bachman; Diamond Head side of E-W Rd., mauka of Biomed Sci.
Bldg. |
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Nymphaea spp., Nymphaeaceae, water lily. Aquatic herbs from Africa and Asia
with leaves and flowers that float on the surface of water and rootstocks or tubers rooted
in the mud. The tubers (and seeds) of several kinds of water lilies (e.g. lotus) are eaten
in some countries for the large amount of starch they contain; some are used medicinally.
Location: Krauss Hall pond. |
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Ochna thomasiana, Ochnaceae, Mickey Mouse bush, bird's eye bush. Shrub from
tropical Africa with sharp-tipped oval leaves to 4 inches long. The flowers have yellow
petals about 3/4 inch long and bright red-purple sepals that enlarge in fruit. For those
with imagination, the profile of certain fruits call to mind Mickey Mouse. Location:
Between Sherman and Pope Greenhouses. |
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Odontonema tubiforme, Acanthaceae, odontonema. Smooth shrub from Central
America, grown for its bright red flowers. Location: Makai of Bachman Hall; Diamond Head
side of Univ. H.S. Bldg. 2. |
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Olea europaea, Oleaceae, olive. Small tree from the Mediterranean, the leaves
with silvery undersides; cultivated for more than 4000 years for the fruits and the
valuable oil they contain. The olive branch is the ancient emblem for peace; the wood is
hard and durable. Location: Diamond Head of entrance to Hamilton Library; makai courtyard
of Biomed. |
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Oncoba spinosa, Flacourtiaceae, oncoba. Spiny shrub or small tree from tropical
Africa with white camellia-like flowers about two inches across. Roots and leaves used
medicinally, the hollowed out fruits are used for snuff boxes. The fruit pulp is edible
but sour, reminiscent of pomegranate. Location: Makai-Ewa corner of Pope Greenhouses, near
Sherman Hall. |
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Ophiopogon japonicus, Liliaceae, mondo grass, lily turf. Grasslike evergreen
herb from E. Asia, used as ground cover, rarely flowers. Leaves commonly to 12 inches
long; a dwarf variety has leaves only about 3 inches long and makes an excellent sod that
excludes weeds. Location: EWC Japanese garden. |
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Opuntia cochenillifera, Cactaceae, cochineal cactus. Succulent shrub or tree
from southern Mexico grown ornamentally in Hawaii. Formerly widely cultivated as a host
for cochineal insects that furnish cochineal dye. Fruits of the related prickly pear, or
pa-nini, a succulent tree from Mexico (Opuntia ficus-indica -
3rd Photo), were eaten raw by the Hawaiians or were used to make a fermented drink.
Location: St. John courtyard. |
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Orthosiphon aristatus, Lamiaceae, cat's whiskers.
Ornamental shrub from India to Australia; leaves used to treat diabetes in
China. Location: St. John courtyard. |
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Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Rosaceae, 'ulei. Prostrate, often trailing shrub
with small leaflets, indigenous to Hawaii. Flowers white, in conspicuous clusters,
developing small, white, bony-centered, apple-like fruits nearly half an inch in diameter.
The wood was used by the Hawaiians to make spears for fishing and to make the 'ukeke, a
musical instrument. Location: St. John courtyard. |
