Tephrosia purpurea
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| ʻAuhuhu | ||||||||||||||
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 var. purpurea
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| Tephrosia purpurea |
ʻAuhuhu (Tephrosia purpurea, also known as ahuhu, ʻauhola, or hola), is a tropical plant which grows in arid regions of Hawaii. It also grows in other tropical countries, although it is said to be less vigorous there. The Hawaiians used ʻauhuhu as a fish poison; the leaves and seeds contain tephrosin, which paralyzes fish. Larger doses are lethal to fish, but mammals and amphibians are unaffected.
[edit] References
- Arnold, M.D., Harry L. (1968). Poisonous Plants of Hawaii. Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 57-58.
- Bishop Museum Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database. Downloaded on 24 September 2007.
