Ala'alatoa
Leucosyke corymbulosa

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A small tree or shrub. It grows 6 m high. The young stems are flattened, reddish and hairy. The older stems are dark grey and zigzag. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are in 2 rows. The leaf blade often has unequal sides. They are oval. They are 3-15 cm long and rounded at the base. They narrow to a curved tip. The upper surface is light green and the lower surface is grey-green and hairy. There are 3 veins from the base. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are in heads in the axils of leaves. The male and female flowers are separate and on separate trees. The fruit are many black dry seeds in fleshy lobes.

There are about 35 Leucosyke species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in sunny places in lowland rainforest in Samoa. It grows from sea level to 650 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Pacific, Samoa, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna

How it is used for food

Leaves are used for tea.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Draunigata, Kakus, Karokarokuro, Matadra

Synonyms

Missiessya corymbulosa Wedd.;