Alena
Boerhavia repens
Somewhat succulent herbs with a thick center root from which prostrate stems branch out radially. Leaves are small and rounded. From the leaf axis, small white flower clusters extend up from a single, narrow stem.
He lāʻau liʻiliʻi me kekahi mole nui a kupu mai nā lālā mai ka mole. Poepoe nā lau. Pua mai nā pua mai kahi e pākuʻi ai nā lau i ke ʻau, he mau pua keʻokeʻo.
This native ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi plant is found primarily in coastal areas in both rocky and sandy soil types. They are often found mixed in with other coastal ground covers like Pa’u o Hi’iaka (Jacquemontia ovalifolia), ‘Ilima papa (Sida fallax) and Nehe (Wollastonia integrifolia). They’re found throughout the Pacific islands, and here in Hawaiʻi they’re found on all the main islands, as well as most of the Northwestern ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi islands.
Ulu kēia lāʻau i kapakai ma ka lepo ʻākeke a ma ke one. He hoa pili ia no ka pāʻū o Hiʻiaka (Jacquemontia ovalifolia), ka ʻilima papa (Sida fallax) a me ka nehe (Wollastonia integrifolia). Ulu i ʻō a ʻō ma ka pae ʻāina mai Hawaiʻi a hala aku ʻo Kaʻula i nā mokupuni pālahalaha.
The succulent roots of Alena are used as a diuretic.
He lapaʻau nā mole o ke alena no ke kōkua ʻana i ka mimi.
Alena looks great in landscapes that incorporate a lot of rocks. Their light green foliage and white flowers contrast nicely with the rocks, and make the rocks stand out. Plant them in full sun with about a one foot spacing to ensure a full look. Daily watering is OK as long as the plants are in well-drained soil. Otherwise, water them once the soil has dried. After the plants are established, watering can be reduced to about once a week or a little more frequently if conditions are dry.
Nani ke alena ma ka ʻāina pōhaku. ʻIke leʻa ʻia nā lau ʻōmaʻomaʻo ke kū ma kahi o nā pōhaku ʻeleʻele, a he mea nō hoʻi e nani ai nā pōhaku. No ka lupalupa ʻana o ke alena ma ka māla, e kanu i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā, hoʻokahi kapuaʻi ke kōwā ma waena o nā mole. Hiki ke hāinu i kēlā me kēia lā inā kanu ʻia ma ka lepo ʻākeke. Inā kanu ʻia i ka lepo pālolo, aia a maloʻo ka lepo, e hāinu hou; hoʻokahi a ʻelua paha manawa o ka pule ka hāinu ʻana.
There are four species of Boerhavia found in Hawaiʻi; all but one are native and all have small sticky fruit that make the plant easily dispersible. The single non-native species (Boerhavia coccinea) has the stickiest and produces the most seeds, which usually stand higher off the ground than the other plants’, making them easier to attach to passing people, animals, vehicles, etc. The germination rate of the seeds is also high and they become well-rooted, making them a tough weed. It’s no wonder why this plant, although a recent introduction, is well-established and widespread.
ʻEhā ʻano o ka Boerhavia ma Hawaiʻi nei. ʻEkolu o lākou, he lāʻau Hawaiʻi a he mau hua pipili e laha ai ke alena ke paʻa ma ka huluhulu o kekahi holoholona. Hoʻokahi lāʻau (Boerhavia coccinea) haole ma Hawaiʻi nei, ʻo ia ke ʻano e ʻoi aku ai ka pipili o nā hua. A eia kekahi, ʻo ia nō hoʻi ke ʻano e hua nui ai, ʻoi aku ma mua o nā ʻano Hawaiʻi. ʻOi aku hoʻi kona lōʻihi ma mua o nā lāʻau ʻē aʻe, a ʻo ka hoʻopili akula nō ia o kona mau ʻanoʻano me ka maʻalahi i nā mea e māʻalo ana, e laʻa nā kānaka, nā holoholona, nā kaʻa, a pēlā wale aku. ʻOi aku ka wikiwiki o ka laha ʻana o kēia ʻano haole ma mua o ko kēia pae ʻāina. ʻAuē nō hoʻi ē. Noho hewa nō paha.