Pipturus spp. - Mamaki Tea, Handalamay, Armwe, Australian Mulberry

 Polska wersja

        PLANT PROFILE         

   Pipturus is a genus of mostly robust bushes that often turns into a small tree, although some of it's species are just small shrubs. It grows in tropical Pacific region from Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan - Ryukyu Islands, Indonesia, north of Australia to Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Polynesia and Hawaii, and is also said to be found in east of India, Sri Lanka and South-East China. Those plants are used as a folk remedy by many different indigenous cultures, but only in Hawaii it is really popular, and cultivated in gardens. It's tiny fruits can be eaten just like mulberries, which it reminds so much, that it is called Native Mulberry in Australia, and Australian Mulberry in neighborhood countries (but both names are also used for Hedycarya angustifolia). And it's leaves are consumed as a vegetable or medicine, and infusions from it are drunk as a tea.
   In recent years a few plantations of this Pipturus albidus have been started in Hawaii, producing dry Pipturus leaves that is commercially available as Mamaki Tea (Mamaki is local name for the plant). But both the tea and the plant itself, hardly ever travel outside the region of it's origin. Which makes it one of the most unknown (contemporarily utilized) herbs and vegetables, in the world. And even in most of the places where Pipturus grows wild, like in many regions of the Philippines, no one ever heard that this bush does have any use. Some indigenous communities though, not only continue tradition of use of it as a medicinal herb, but also use fiber from the bark to make materials, ropes and fishing nets, sap as a glue, and it's wood as a timber for constructions.

   Most of the authors are repeating the phrase, that there are up to 40 species in genus Pipturus. But you can only find significant descriptions and information about few species, and there is a lack of  comparative review of this whole poorly researched genus. And as with many poorly documented genuses, there is a risk that some of it's species was recorded in different regions by different persons that haven't seen each others specimens. Which can result in one species being given two or more different names independently. And the vague documentations might be not good enough for confrontation to signify differences or it's lack, between plants put under those names.
   For example I am wondering if what is claimed to be endemic species to Hawaii called Pipturus albidus, is not in fact the same species as the one called Pipturus arborescens in the Philippines. Because from all the descriptions and photos of both, I can not tell significant difference. Keeping in mind, that what I have seen with my own eyes, prove how different morphology of Pipturus leaves might appear due to varied conditions. I have seen how the look of the same Pipturus specimen growing in my garden for four years, have been changing due to seasons and altered conditions.
   The leaves might get more than twice as big as the average, when those plants get lot of compost and water, or half smaller when soil get dry and hard as a rock (I have seen Pipturus arborescens plants with leaves varied from 7 to even 30 cm in length, all growing in the same one region). It is getting unproportionally wide during rainy season as in need to catch more sun, scarce due to constant clouds. On the opposite it is getting very narrow when the sun is mercilessly intense during dry season. And when Pipturus plants have good pace of growth thanks to rich soil and adequate level of moisture, but are stressed by strong sun combined with low temperatures, it's new leaves, petiole and stems are growing with violet or reddish hue. Also texture of the leaves surface may vary significantly due to differences in environment and weather conditions.

   Due to my knowledge of Pipturus plants, I can not agree with current scientific classification of genus Pipturus as part of Urticaceae family of plants, as for me Pipturus plants belongs to Moraceae family. Just look how little Pipturus has in common with Urtica dioica, and how much with Morus alba.

   Here are the main species of Pipturus mentioned in botanical and herbalist literarure :

  Pipturus albidus - name given by Scottish botanist George Arnott Walker-Arnott is used for Pipturus plants that grows in Hawaii, and are commonly called Mamaki or Mamake Kauai. Many botanists are repeating claim that this species is endemic to Hawaii, which means that it is so unique that you can't find it (growing wild) anywhere else on the planet. This idea is a favorite promotion line of Mamaki Tea producers, as it makes it look more special and local. Mamaki have quite many botanical synonyms, but nowadays only Pipturus kauaiensis can be sometimes found in use.

  Pipturus arborescens - name given by Canadian botanist Charles Budd Robinson, this species is said to be recorded in the Philippines (where it is known under many local names like Dalunot or Dalonot in Tagalog, Handalamay, Hindaramai or Hindalumai in Visayan, Taktakop or Tkop-takop in Ilokano, Andamay in Mansaka, Landog in Manobo, Alamay in Taalandig and Higaonon), China (Chinese name - Luo Wei Mu), Taiwan and Japan.

  Pipturus argenteus - name given by Polish-German naturalist and ethnologist Johann Georg Adam Forster, this species was recorded in Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Polynesia and Micronesia. Here are some of it's vernacular names from those regions : Native Mulberry, Kongangu, Queensland Grass-cloth Plant (Australia), Australian Mulberry (Singapure), Silver Pipturus, Handaramai, Hinaramai (the Philippines), Armwe (Marshall Islands), Roga, Roqa, Tandeu (Fiji), Pen-kam (Car Nicobar Island), Dame (Vanuatu Island), Fau songa (Samoa).

                                 Pipturus argenteus on left and Pipturus arborescens on right
                                 

                       
   For some time I had seen no reason to believe that Pipturus arborescens and Pipturus argenteus are two separate species. As the descriptions of morphological characteristics just like photos of both species was showing no clear differences. But one day I found Pipturus plant with suspiciously slightly distinct look. Keeping in mind what I saw already in the past, that Pipturus appearance is very changeable due to environment differences. I took small seedling plant for further investigation, and had planted it next to my old Pipturus. After some time I had no doubts, as the two plants growing next to each other in the same conditions has exhibit different look. Every aspect of the growth of both was matching. But the leaves of the new one has significantly more leathery, glossy surface, reflecting sun stronger, giving it truly silver appearance. One sunny day I realized, that no doubt this is the Silver Pipturus - Pipturus argenteus, and that my old plants was Pipturus arborescens - dominant species in Benguet province of the Philippines.
   The funny thing is that on the downside leaves of Pipturus argenteus looks more white-green than Pipturus arborescens leaves downside, which is more like silvery. P. argenteus leaves are also generally bit thinner, less fleshy than P. arborescens leaves, but both tastes exactly the same.

                                    Pipturus argenteus on left, Pipturus arborescens on right

                                          Pipturus argenteus on left, Pipturus arborescens on right

  Some time later I also have found few specimen of very interesting dwarf bush of Pipturus, near mt. Santo Tomas. That is most probably the species described long ago by Charles Budd Robinson as Pipturus dentatus, and which until today remains scarcely recorded and described species. It was reported to be called Alalaki in Guinaang dialect of Bontoc, Mountain Province, and planted there as hedges.

                                                           Pipturus dentatus

                                          Pipturus arborescens and Pipturus dentatus (in circle)

     Here is my video about Pipturus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6-d7ZH-PVM


                   CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING

   Pipturus is a tropical, evergreen big bush, that turns with age into a small tree up to around 5 m tall. It can grow in quite different environments, from dry sandy or rocky, sunny open areas, to shady, wet thickets and forest grounds (but not swamps), on both low and very high altitudes. It is called pioneering plant, which means that it is one of the first plants that will appear in poor, rocky or disturbed soils (of course only if there is some seeds of it, brought by wind or birds from neighborhood). And because of it's fast growth it is a good screening plant, giving shade and wind protection. It grows best in moist compost soil in half shade, but both volume and taste of its fruits is better when it grows under the full sun.
   Pipturus flowers appears (in the Philippines in late December) in form of tiny clusters without ornamental value, and most of the plants are dioecious. It means that distinct male and female flowers grows on separate plants, so you need a pair of those plants, so that the male plant pollinate female plant, to bring you fruits. But there are also some individual plants having both male and female flower structures, which means it can pollinate itself. Apart from seed propagation the bush can be multiplied through cuttings. The second method is better when you have access to get cuttings from those plants that can be pollinated by its own flowers. Pipturus copes well with strong heat, scorching sun and temporary droughts, but it can not withstand serious frost.

    As a plant that can easily adopt to different conditions, grows well in shade and don't fear dry air. I believe that in temperate climate regions, Pipturus can be successfully grown in a big pot as a small bush (from 1 m height if regularly trimmed, up to your ceiling if not), that will give you tasty leaves all year round. Or even it can be turned into a beautiful bonsai.
   Young Pipturus leaves or whole soft tops of stems, can be by picked as needed to be used as a vegetable, throughout all year round. For drying it is better to choose old leaves (but fully green and not yellowish), but it is also a good idea to cut off whole stems. Pruning will give your bush nice compact shape, and it is easy to dry whole stems by hanging it on a string.

  Pipturus dentatus is different than most of Pipturus species, as it grows only as a shrub. So far I have seen only few specimens growing at high elevation area near peak of mt. Santo Tomas in Baguio, which is 2260 m height. But according to scarce, old reports in botanical literature it have been found also in other high mountains in the Philippines region of Cordillera. All the Dwarf Pipturus (as I started to call P. dentatus) plants that I have seen was very dense, compact, with hard stems, leaves only around 4 cm long, and both male and female flowers on the same stems.




        CULINARY USES

  Pipturus leaves are covered with micro hairs and it's surface can be soft (when young) or bit coarse or leathery (when older), but they are very nice as a fresh vegetable. It has very delicate, refreshing taste, and when young and freshly picked from well watered plants, it has a nice crispy texture with mucilaginous juice. It is good as an addiction to sandwiches and salads, and also can be used for cooking.
   In Hawaii, dried leaves are used to make a tea, which is called Mamaki Tea and is available commercially, but on rather local scale. It is very healthy, invigorating drink with mild taste, and lemongrass or other herbs are often added to it for more aroma. Fresh, chopped leaves of Pipturus can also be used for tea, and I personally prefer that option. I like fresh leaves tea taste better, as I found it to be richer than taste of dried leaves tea. Plus, after drinking off fresh leaves tea you can still eat those leaves from your cup, and it taste good. So my advice is, if you have your own Pipturus plant and you like that tea, don't dry it, use it fresh. Less fusss, more benefits and joy.
   Pipturus's tiny fruits are edible, and reminds white mulberries in its look, structure and softness, and that is why in Australia it is called Native Mulberry. Just like mulberries it is so tender when ripe, that it is even hard to pick without squishing, that is why it is best to be eaten straight after picking from the bush, or gathered and turned into jam. There are different opinions about the taste of Pipturus fruits, which I guess comes from the fact, that just like most of other fruits. Pipturus fruits are nice and sweet if ripen under full sun, and not so good when picked from the plants that grow in shade or very wet soil. Pipturus fruits are often said to be mildly laxative, but I don't know yet if it's only when unripe, overripe, eaten in excess, or is it it's general quality at all time.

   Pipturus dentatus has much tougher leaves than it's bigger brothers, therefore it is not suitable to be leafy vegetable, unless maybe for use in soups as cooking should made it soft. But it has advantage from species like P. arborescens, P. albidus and P. argenteus, that it's leaves are mildly bitter, which gives it's infusions more character than flavorless Mamaki Tea.
  Also P. dentatus fruits are sweeter than fruits of the other three mentioned species, and while dentatus leaves are much smaller, it's fruits are the same size as those of robust growing Pipturus species.

          MEDICINAL USES

   Although there are scarce records about use of Pipturus plants in traditional healing of indigenous people, from most of the regions where it can be found growing wild. Only in Hawaii it seems to have strong significance in folk herbalism. That significance gave a reason for commercial farming of that herb, and (scarce but at least any) scientific medicinal and pharmacological research. It resulted with it's local recognition in modern herbalism, and availability of dried Pipitrus on the market, under the name Mamaki Tea.
    Here are all the medicinal and pharmacological information that I've found under those individual species names.


  Pipturus albidus, Mamaki - leaves are eaten fresh and are said to be '' a blessing for those who are weak and frail ''. Leaf decoctions are traditionally drunk to boost energy, to regulate blood pressure, cholesterol level, and blood glucose level. Infusions are given as a tea for a generally "run-down" person, or as a cleansing tonic. The herb is also used to treat anxiety, depression, and to help with many internal disorders, such as those of stomach, colon and liver, bladder infections and PMS.
  Fruits are also eaten to help with malaise, digestive problems, constipation, colitis and dysentery. Mothers are giving the fruits to children as a mild laxative or to treat thrush. Women ate Mamaki fruits and drink Mamaki Tea during the late period of pregnancy in order to have easy birth. Mamaki fruit is also applied externally as a poultice to heal sores and wounds.
  It is said that for some people Mamaki can cause mild agitation or insomnia.
  Pipturus albidus acts as a antioxidant, antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes), antiviral (Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2, Vesicular Stomatitis virus and shows '' a highly selective inhibition of the replication of the human immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1) with low cytotoxicity on normal cells'') and weak antifungal herb. Mamaki leaves contain high amounts of potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron and cooper. Phenolic acids, catechin, chlorogenic acid and rutin have been isolated from the plant leaves.


   Pipturus arborescens - fresh leaves are eaten or infusions drunk to cure fever. The leaves decoction is drunk for stomachache. Pulp made from scraped bark is applied on wounds to enhance healing and as cataplasm on boils and inflammations. Crushed leaves are applied on skin diseases and rubbed on mouth to cure herpes simplex zoster.
   It contains : flavonoids, glycosidic flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes (glutinone, friedelin, glutinol, squalene), sterols (campersterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol), saponins and alkaloids, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, phenolic compounds, anthrones, anthraquinones and coumarins. Some of those compounds exhibited varying cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines, breast (MCF- 7) and colon (HT-29 and HCT-116), and anti-proliferative activities against HCT-116. This plant is also known to posess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity (against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). One of the triterpenes isolated from Pipturus arborescens, called technically Triterpene PA was found active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 50 ug/ml. This particular bacteria in known for it's ubiquity and intrinsically advanced antibiotic resistance. While being a cause of serious, often life threatening diseases, like pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections and various sepsis syndromes.


   Pipturus argenteus - leaf decoctions are drunk or fresh leaves are eaten to treat coughs, colds and flu, leaf sap is drunk to relieve a fever or headache. Squeezed sap from young leaves of Pipturus argenteus and Hibiscus tiliaceus, is drunk in a bit of water, immediately to treat urticaria and itchiness caused by the ingestion of the raw leaves of Taro (Colocasia esculenta). The rainwater collected from P. argenteus leaves surface is used to treat asthma. Chopped leaves are cooked together with pig meat and eaten to remove worms. Sap from the bark is taken as a gargle to treat thrush. The bark is crushed in cold water and drunk twice daily to treat dysentery. The root sap is used to soothe toothache. New roots are cut and the sap is allowed to drip into a container, it is both drunk and used to wash the body of a patient with malaria fever or a severe cough.
    Leaf infusion or drink from equal parts of Pipturus sap and water, is drunk to stimulate, hasten and ease childbirth. The plant is also used for wash - '' Pound 30 green and 30 yellow leaves from the armwe [local name for P. argenteus in Marshall Islands] tree and mix with grated mature coconut flesh (waini) from the green coconut tree (ni maro). Place this in a cloth or coconut fiber strainer, squeeze into a bathtub of water, and use the water to bathe the expectant mother 3 times a day. A fresh preparation should be made each day for the duration of the treatment, which is six days.''
  To induce sterility, mixed, equal amounts of grated dry coconut flesh with the grated bark of this plant, is eaten.
   Externally the leaves, or the juice from (sometimes heated) leaves , are used for poulticing boils, burns, skin diseases and herpes sores. Leaf paste is applied on muscular swellings as emollient. Crushed leaves are rubbed on the body to relieve fever or headache and to ease centipede bites. The scraped roots are chewed with betel nuts (Areca spp.) and lime, and the mixture is rubbed into centipede bites. Scraped inner bark is applied on burns to speed up healing, and also to spear wounds, to facilitate removal of the spear head (which means that it should be helpful in removing any sharp objects that stuck in your body, and it probably is due to its emollient properties).The root sap is also used on wounds. Crushed fruits are applied on warts.



                                                         Pipturus arborescens

FEMALE FLOWERS 

                                                              MALE FLOWERS

                                                                          FRUITS

                                                                     PLANT  A

                                                                     PLANTS  B

                                                       Pipturus argenteus

                      


                                                            Pipturus dentatus

      These are probably some Lygocoris species bugs, and so far I've seen it much worse for Pipturus than caterpillars, woolly whiteflies or other bugs.

    Sources

'' Traditional Medicine of the Marshall Islands: The Women, the Plants, the Treatments '' - Irene J. Taafaki, Maria Kabua Fowler, Randolph R. Thaman, IPS Publications, University of South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 2006
'' 100 Plants and Remedies '' - Aaron Matas, Lulu.com 2013
'' Medicinal Plants of the Philippines '' - Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing, Katha Publishing 1978

  '' Ethnomedical documentation of and community health education for selected Philippine ethnolinguistic groups: the Mansaka people of Pantukan and Maragusan Valley, Compostela Valley Province, Mindanao, Philippines  '' - Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, Department of Health, Sta Cruz, Manila University of the Philippines Manila, Ermita, Manila University of the Philippines Mindanao, Bago Oshiro, Davao City 2000

   STUDIES ON THE STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE LEAVES OF IPIL, HANDALAMAY AND LIPANG ASO - Mylene M. Uy and Anita P. Rivera Chemistry Department, Mindanao State Univeristy-Iligan Institute of Technology

SOME COMMENTS ON BONTOC ETHNOBOTANY - LAWRENCE A. REID

Taxonomy of ethnomedicinal botanicals and documentation of ethnomedicinal practices traditionally used by three selected ethnolinguistic communities in Mindanao, Philippines.

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