Sida fallax, known as yellow ilima[1] or golden mallow,[2] is a species of herbaceous flowering plant in the Hibiscus family, Malvaceae, indigenous to the Hawaiian Archipelago and other Pacific Islands. Plants may be erect or prostrate and are found in drier areas in sandy soils, often near the ocean. ʻIlima is the symbol of Laloimehani and is the flower for the islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, and Abemama, Kiribati.
It is known as ʻilima or ʻāpiki in Hawaiian[3] and as kio in Marshallese,[4] te kaura in Kiribati, idibin ekaura in Nauruan,[5] and akatā in Tuvalu.[6]
In Hawaiian religion, the ʻilima flowers are associated with Laka, the goddess of the hula, and the plant's prostrate form with Pele's brother, Kane-ʻapua, the god of taro planters.[7] Lei made from ʻilima were believed to attract mischievous spirits (thus its alternative name, ʻāpiki), although some considered them to be lucky.[8]
The flowers are small, 0.75–1 in (1.9–2.5 cm) in diameter; have five petals; and range from golden yellow to orange in color.[9]
ʻIlima grows from 6 inches (150 mm) to 10 feet (3.0 m) tall in prostrate (beach growing) and erect (upland shrub) forms.[9] Lowland ʻilima, known as ʻilima papa, has silver-green foliage; mountain varieties have smooth, green foliage. Leaves can be long and narrow or rounded or heart-shaped with finely to coarsely serrated leaf margins. Flowers may be solitary or occur in small clusters.[10]
Native Hawaiians used ʻilima flowers to make lei,[11] and it is possibly the only plant cultivated specifically for lei-making in ancient Hawaiʻi. About 1,000 ʻilima blossoms are needed to make one strand of a lei.[12] ʻIlima is now planted as a commercial crop for flowers and garlands in Hawaiʻi and Kiribati; where it was once seen as only for use in lei for royalty, but it now can be worn by anyone.[7]
The flowers are sometimes also used as a food garnish,[13] and flowers and tender meristems are sometimes used to scent coconut oil in Nauru. The stems are used in weaving rough baskets, floor coverings, and in house thatching. The bushes are used to help prepare swamp taro beds in Hawaiʻi, and dried leaves and flowers are used as fertilizer, mulch, and sometimes compost in Kiribati.[7] S. fallax is sometimes used as a groundcover in tropical areas.
Traditionally, ʻilima was used medicinally to ease pregnancy and as a mild laxative.[11] The flowers were used in magic, particularly love magic;[7] for example, in Kiribati S. fallax flowers were mixed with coconut milk and bark from Premna serratifolia trees to promote true love.[14]
Sida fallax, known as yellow ilima or golden mallow, is a species of herbaceous flowering plant in the Hibiscus family, Malvaceae, indigenous to the Hawaiian Archipelago and other Pacific Islands. Plants may be erect or prostrate and are found in drier areas in sandy soils, often near the ocean. ʻIlima is the symbol of Laloimehani and is the flower for the islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, and Abemama, Kiribati.
It is known as ʻilima or ʻāpiki in Hawaiian and as kio in Marshallese, te kaura in Kiribati, idibin ekaura in Nauruan, and akatā in Tuvalu.
In Hawaiian religion, the ʻilima flowers are associated with Laka, the goddess of the hula, and the plant's prostrate form with Pele's brother, Kane-ʻapua, the god of taro planters. Lei made from ʻilima were believed to attract mischievous spirits (thus its alternative name, ʻāpiki), although some considered them to be lucky.
Sida fallax (‘ilima en hawaiiano) es una pequeña herbácea de las Hibiscus en la familia de las (Malvaceae). Es indígena de las islas hawaiianas, donde era la flor original usada en la hechura del lei.
Las flores son pequeñas, no más de 25 mm de diámetro, con cinco pétalos de coloración amarillo dorado. Las plantas pueden ser erectas o postradas, y se las encuentra e áreas áridas de suelo arenoso, frecuentemente cerca del océano.
A veces se lo utiliza como un cobertor de suelo en zonas tropicales.
Sida fallax fue descrita por Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers y publicado en Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 19(Suppl. 1): 306 1843.[1]
Sida: nombre genérico que fue adoptado por Carlos Linneo de los escritos de Teofrasto, que lo usaba para el nenúfar blanco europeo, Nymphaea alba.
fallax: epíteto latíno que significa "engañoso, falaz".
Sida fallax (‘ilima en hawaiiano) es una pequeña herbácea de las Hibiscus en la familia de las (Malvaceae). Es indígena de las islas hawaiianas, donde era la flor original usada en la hechura del lei.
Sida fallax est une espèce de plante herbacée à fleurs de la famille des Malvaceae.
Elle est originaire du Pacifique, notamment d'Hawaï. Elle y était utilisée pour fabriquer les lei, les colliers de fleurs hawaïens.
Les fleurs sont petites, approximativement 2 à 2,5 cm de diamètre, avec cinq pétales et sont de couleur jaune d'or. Les plants peuvent être dressés ou prostrés. Elle pousse en terrains secs et sablonneux, souvent près de l'océan.
Sida fallax Walp. (in lingua hawaiana ʻilima) è una pianta appartenente alla famiglia delle Malvacee, che cresce in diverse isole del Pacifico.[1]
È il simbolo dell'isola hawaiana di Oʻahu.
La pianta può essere eretta o prostrata.
Ha fiori piccoli (da 2 a 2,5 cm di diametro), con cinque petali di color giallo-oro.
La specie è presente in diverse isole dell'oceano Pacifico tra cui le isole Caroline, le isole Gilbert, le isole Hawaii, le isole della Linea, le isole Marianne, le isole Marchesi, le isole Marshall, l'isola di Nauru, le isole della Fenice, le isole della Società, le isole Tuamotu, le isole Tubuai, le isole Tuvalu, l'isola di Wake.[1]
La si trova in zone con il suolo sabbioso, spesso sulle rive oceaniche.
Gli abitanti delle isole Hawaii usano i fiori della ʻilima per fare i lei.[2] S. fallax è talvolta usata come "copertura" del terreno per consolidarlo evitando erosione e smottamenti, oltre che per renderlo esteticamente migliore rispetto alla terra nuda.
