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Elephant apple is native in the area from India through SE Asia and into Indonesia. The fruit is up to 8 inches in diameter, and the sections on the fruit are forned from the sepals, which become large & fleshy and are edible.
I'm no lichen expert, but the native Stereocaulon vulcani is typically listed as one of the pioneer species on bare lava flows on the Big Island.
No, it doesn't appear to be edible. This site (in Spanish) mentions some uses: http://aprendeenlinea.udea.edu.co/ova/?q...
USOS: La planta entera en decocción o maceración se usa en bebidas y bañas contra morderas de serpientes. Otros usos en medicina tradicional son: contra la dismenorrea, analgésico, antianémico y para curar trastornos de la piel.
