#2407 - Piper excelsum - Kawakawa
AKA Macropiper excelsum. The name kawakawa comes from the Māori kawa meaning bitter, and while it certainly is, probably refers to the related Kava (Piper methysticum) which can't grow in New Zealand's cooler climate but is widely used in the Pacific Islands to produce a ritual drink with medicinal, anesthetic, euphoriant, and entheogenic properties. The Māori word kawa also means "ceremonial protocol"
A small tree endemic to New Zealand; the subspecies P. e. subsp. psittacorum is found on Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands.
Kawakawa was used as a medicinal plant by the Māori. An infusion made from leaves or roots or chewed leaves were used to relieve toothache, and wounds were often bound in kawakawa leaves. The edible yellow berries were eaten as a diuretic. Traditionally, leaves with holes chewed by caterpillars of the kawakawa looper moth (Cleora scriptaria) were considered the best to use - not implausible, if the plant increases production of bioactive molecules in response to insect attack.
In cultural contexts, host people of a marae wave leaves of kawakawa to welcome guests. At a tangi, both hosts and guests may wear wreaths of kawakawa on the head as a sign of mourning.
Early European settlers to New Zealand used kawakawa in teas, and experimented using it as a flavouring agent in beer. Since the contains the deliriant myristicin, this was probably a memorably bad idea.
New Plymouth, Taranaki Ringplain, New Zealand
