Gouania hillebrandii
Description:
Hairy-fruit chewstickRhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Molokai, Lnai (extinct), West Maui, Kahoolawe (extinct), Hawaii Island)NatureServe: Critically ImperiledOahu (Cultivated)Though no known use by the early Hawaiians or in modern times, other species outside of the Hawaiian Islands have the fitting name "chew-stick" (chewstick). The Urban chewstick, or white root (Gouania lupuloides), is used widely by local people from Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and into Central and South America as a tooth cleaner. A stick about the thickness of the small finger, with bark removed, is chewed thus strengthening the gums. The stick produces a slightly bitter, yet aromatic, soap-like froth (saponins) when chewed. The softened stick is then used by rubbing the teeth much like a toothbrush.In times past, dried and powdered forms were exported to Europe and the United States. Jamaicans still use chewstick for medicine and in a mouthwash called "Chew-Dent." They also use it in making ginger beer, a stronger tasting ginger ale. Chewstick is also used in brewing beer as a hops substitute and is perhaps why some Jamaican beers have a distinctive taste.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Gouania_hillebrandii
Included On The Following Pages:
- Life (creatures)
- Cellular (cellular organisms)
- Eukaryota (eukaryotes)
- Archaeplastida (plants)
- Chloroplastida (green plants)
- Streptophyta
- Embryophytes
- Tracheophyta (ferns)
- Spermatophytes (seed plants)
- Angiosperms (Dicotyledons)
- Eudicots
- Superrosids
- Rosids
- Rosales ("Order: Roses, Figs, Nettles & relatives")
- Rhamnaceae (buckthorn family)
- Gouania (chewstick)
- Gouania hillebrandii (hairyfruit chewstick)
This image is not featured in any collections.
Source Information
- license
- cc-by
- copyright
- David Eickhoff
- photographer
- David Eickhoff
- original
- original media file
- visit source
- partner site
- Flickr Group
- ID