Noni

Description:

The noni plant has dark green, shiny, deeply veined leaves most recognizable to the common person. The tree can be found is a variety of sizes often reaching around 5-9 meters tall. The flowers of the noni are small and white and grow upon the fleshy fruit structure. Though unlike many plants the noni is able to produce fruit year round never ceasing to blossom. The fruit of which come from the noni plant have a very distinctive shape. They are oval though disfigured. The fruit starts green and then starts to yellow and turn a white gray. Once the fruit has become ripe it gives off a very rancid smell if left to rot. The fruit are normally 7-10 cm in length.

Habitat:

The noni plant is commonly found at shore side regions though is also found living in a variety of places such as clearings, volcanic terrain, lava-strewn coasts and on limestone outcrops. The noni plant has also adapted and is very good at withstanding times of drought. The noni plant is native to Southeast Asia though it has spread to India reaching the pacific islands and even all the way to south america. The noni is a commonly found plant and grows in abundance across the hawaiian islands. This tree was spotted in the residential regions of Ewa Beach closer to the district of Waipahu.

Notes:

The noni plant is used throughout polynesia and other continents as a cleansing drink. Once fruit has fermented for days a potent juice is extracted normally dark brown in color. Though the juice is very rancid and unpleasing the effects of which they have on your body are most beneficial. Used in Hawaiʻi for laʻau lapaʻau the noni is a highly praised plants among knowledgable kahuna laʻau lapaʻau. Not only the fruit are used but the leaves can be used as well, heated over a fire to create a bandage that heal wounds.