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List of Samoan plant common names

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Below are some Samoan plant names in alphabetical order in the Samoan language and their corresponding descriptions in English.[1][2][3] Many are used in traditional medicines in the Samoa Islands comprising Samoa and American Samoa.

Samoan name Scientific name Plant family English name
A'atasi Rorippa sarmentosa Brassicaceae (Mustard family) Polynesian cress, longrunner
Ago, lega when cooked Curcuma longa Zingiberaceae (Ginger family) Turmeric
Aloalo, also Aloalo fanua, Aloalo sami Premna serratifolia Verbenaceae (Verbena family)
Aloalo tai Volkameria inermis Verbenaceae (Verbena family) glory bower
Aloalo vao Mussaenda raiateensis Rubiaceae (Coffee family) Pacific mussaenda, Pacific flag-tree
Aloe (English loan word) Aloe vera Agavaceae (Yucca family) Aloe vera
Aoa Ficus obliqua Moraceae (Mulberry family) Polynesian banyan, strangler fig
ʻApu Initia (English loan word) Anacardium occidentale Anacardiaceae (Cashew family) Cashew, "Indian Apple"
Ateate Melanthera biflora Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Beach sunflower
ʻAu'auli Diospyros samoensis Ebenaceae Samoan ebony
ʻAute Samoa Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Malvaceae (Mallow family) Red hibiscus
ʻAva, ʻAva Samoa, kava Piper methysticum Piperaceae (Pepper family) Kava
ʻAvaʻavaaitu Macropiper puberulum Piperaceae (Pepper family) hairy piper
ʻAvaʻavaaitu sosolo
ʻAvaʻavaaitu tu
ʻAvapui Zingiber zerumbet Zingiberaceae (Ginger family) Wild ginger, shampoo ginger
ʻAvapui tuasivi Alpinia samoensis Zingiberaceae Samoan shell-ginger
Esi (Tongan loan word, lesi transliterated as le esi Carica papaya Caricaceae (Papaya family) Papaya, pawpaw
Faʻi, moʻe, futi Musa maclayi Musaceae (Banana family) Banana, plantain
Fala Pandanus tectorius Pandanaceae (Screwpine family) Pandanus, screwpine
Fau Hibiscus tiliaceus Malvaceae (Mallow family) Beach hibiscus
Fetau Calophyllum inophyllum Clusiaceae (Maongosteen family) Calophyllum
Filimoto Flacourtia rukam Flacourtiaceae (Flacourtia family) Indian plum
Fisoa Colubrina asiatica Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family) latherleaf, Asian nakedwood, Asian snakewood
Fiu Zingiber officinale Zingiberaceae (Ginger family) Ginger
Fu'afu'a Kleinhovia hospita Sterculiaceae (Cacao family) guest tree
Fue laufao Epipremnum pinnatum Araceae (arum family) centipede tongavine, dragon-tail plant
Fue manogi Piper graeffei Piperaceae (Piper family)
Fue moa, Fuefue moa Ipomoea pes-caprae Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family) Beach morning-glory
Fue saina Mikania micrantha Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Mile-a-minute weed, "Chinese Fue"
Fue sina Vigna marina Fabaceae (Pea family) Beach pea
Futu Barringtonia asiatica Barringtonia (Barringtonia family) Fish-poison tree
Gatae, Gatae Samoa Erythrina variegata Fabaceae (Pea family) Coral tree
Ifi Inocarpus fagifer Fabaceae (Pea family) Tahitian chestnut
Ifiifi Atuna excelsa subsp. racemosa, syn. Atuna racemosa Chrysobalanaceae tabon-tabon
Ifilele Intsia bijuga Fabaceae (Pea family) Fijian vesi, Tongan fehi
Kuava (English loan word) Psidium guajava Myrtaceae (Myrtle family) Guava
La'au fai lafa Senna alata Fabaceae (Pea family) Dandlebush, acapulco
Laga'ali Aglaia samoensis Meliaceae (Mahogany family)
Lama, tuitui Aleurites moluccanus Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) Candlenut (lama means "soot")
Lau mafiafia Hoya australis Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed family) Wax plant
Lau pata, Lau papata, Pata Macaranga harveyana Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Lau ti, Ti Cordyline fruticosa Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) Ti leaf
Leva Cerbera manghas Apocynaceae (Dogbane family) sea mango
Ma'anunu Tarenna sambucina Rubiaceae (Coffee family)
Magele Trema cannabina Ulmaceae (Elm family) poison peach
Mago Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae (Cashew family) mango
Makerita (English loan word) Tagetes erecta Asteraceae (Sunflower family) African marigold
Mamala Omalanthus nutans Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) Mamala extract found to be medicinally useful as antiviral therapy
Masame Glochidion ramiflorum Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Matalafi Psychotria insularum Rubiaceae (Coffee family)
Mati Ficus tinctoria Moraceae (Mulberry family) Dyer's fig
Mautofu Sida rhombifolia Malvaceae (Mallow family) Broom weed
Mau'utoga ("Tongan mau'u") Commelina diffusa Commelinaceae (Spiderwort family) Day flower
Milo Thespesia populnea Malvaceae (Mallow family) Milo, Pacific rosewood
Moegalo Cymbopogon citratus Poaceae (Grass family) Lemon grass
Moli'aina ("edible moli") Citrus sinensis Rutaceae (Citrus family) Orange, sweet orange
Moso'oi Cananga odorata Annonaceae (Soursop family) Perfume tree, ylang-ylang
Namulega Vitex trifolia Verbenaceae (Verbena family) simpleleaf chastetree
Niu Cocos nucifera Arecaceae (Palm family) Coconut
Nonu, Nonu togianonu Morinda citrifolia Rubiaceae (Coffee family) Indian mulberry, "noni"
Nonu 'ai ("edible nonu"), Nonu fi'afi'a Syzygium malaccense Myrtaceae (Myrtle family) Malay apple
ʻOʻa Bischofia javanica Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) bishop wood
ʻOfe, Ofe Samoa Schizostachyum glaucifolium Poaceae (Grass family) Polynesian bamboo
Ogoogo, Ogoogo toto Laportea interrupta Urticaceae (Nettle family) Island nettle
Ogoogo tea, Ogoogo sina, Ogoogo pa'epa'e (all mean "white ogoogo") Acalypha lanceolata Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Pate Coleus scutellarioides Lamiaceae (Mint family) Coleus
Polo feu ("spicy polo") Capsicum frutescens Solanaceae (Nightshade family) Chilli pepper
Poumuli Securinega flexuosa Phyllanthaceae
Pua Fiti ("Fijian pua") Plumeria rubra Apocynaceae (Dogbane family) Plumeria, frangipani
Pua Samoa, Tiale Gardenia taitensis Rubiaceae (Coffee family) Tahitian gardenia (tiare)
Pua taunofo Allamanda cathartica Apocynaceae (Dogbane family) Golden trumpet
Salato Dendrocnide harveyi Urticaceae (Nettle family) Stinging nettle tree
Seasea Syzygium corynocarpum Myrtaceae (Myrtle family) hemp-agrimony, holy rope
Soi Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscoreaceae (Yam family) Bitter yam
Tagitagi, Tagitagi Samoa Polyscias fruticosa Araliaceae (Panax family) Ming aralia
Taipoipoi Geniostoma ligustrifolium Loganiaceae (Logania family) hangehange
Talafalu Micromelum minutum Rutaceae (Citrus family) limeberry, samui
Talie Terminalia catappa Combretaceae (Tropical Island family) Tropical almond
Talo Colocasia esculenta Araceae (Arum family) Taro
Teuila Alpinia purpurata Zingiberaceae (Ginger family) Red ginger. (national flower of Samoa)
Teve Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Araceae (arum family) elephant foot yam, whitespot giant arum
Tipolo (Tahitian loan word) Citrus medica Rutaceae (Citrus family) Citron, lemon
Togo, Togotogo Centella asiatica Apiaceae (Carrot family) Asiatic pennywort
Tolo Saccharum officinarum Poaceae (Grass family) Sugarcane
U'a Broussonetia papyrifera Moraceae (Mulberry family) Paper mulberry, used in making tapa
Ufi Boerhavia repens Nyctaginaceae (Four O'Clock family) Yam
ʻUlu Artocarpus altilis Moraceae (Mulberry family) Breadfruit tree
ʻUmala Ipomoea batatas Ipomoea (Sweet Potato) Sweet potato, kumara
Usi Euodia hortensis Rutaceae (Citrus family) Island musk
Vao apulupulu Chamaesyce hirta Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) Garden spurge
Vao vai Peperomia pellucida Piperaceae (Pepper family) pepper elder, shining bush plant, man to man
Vavae Ceiba pentandra Malvaceae (Mallow family) Kapok
Vi Spondias dulcis Anacardiaceae (Cashew family) Polynesian plum, Otaheite apple
Vi vao Physalis angulata Solanaceae (Nightshade family) Wild cape gooseberry

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Isle Botanica, Art Whistler (May 1999). "Guide to the most commonly used medicinal plants in Samoa" (PDF). American Samoa Community College Land Grant Program. Honolulu, Hawai'i. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  2. ^ Roger R. B. Leakey, Craig R. Elevitch, Isabella Aiona Abbott (2006). Traditional trees of Pacific Islands: their culture, environment, and use. Permanent Agriculture Resources. ISBN 978-0-9702544-5-0. Retrieved 11 July 2010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Traditional medicines still strong in Samoa". Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Samoa. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
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