Polynesian plants and plant names in Polynesian languages


Included here are plant names and words compared with Polynesian languages such as Sāmoan language and Hawaiʻian language.

Learn more words with our Sāmoan and Polynesian Dictionary >>


English Sāmoan Word Hawaiʻian Word Tongan Word Tahitian Word Māori Word Scientific
Aloe vera Aloe ʻAloe ʻAloe Aloe vera
Alphitonia zizyphoides Toi Toi Alphitonia zizyphoides
Angular winter cherry Magalo (vi vao) Polo pā Physalis angulata
Asiatic pennywort Togo Centella asiatica
Bamboo ʻOfe ʻOhe Kofe Schizostachyum glaucifolium
Banana Faʻi Maiʻa Siaine Maiʻa Maika Musa
Banyan or small-leaved fig ʻAoa ‘Ovava Ficus obliqua
Beach cabbage Toʻi toʻi Scaevola taccada
Beach heliotrope Tausuni Tornefortia argentea
Beach morning glory Fue moa Ipomoea pes-caprae
Beach pea Fue sina Vigna marina
Beach sunflower Ateate Wollastonia biflora
Bishop wood ʻOʻa Bischofia javanica
Bitter yam Soi Dioscorea bulbifera
Bottle Gourd Ipu Lagenaria siceraria
Breadfruit ʻUlu ʻUlu Mei ʻUru Kuru Artocarpus altilis
Broadleaf hopbush ʻAʻaliʻi Dodonaea viscosa
Bobea ʻAhakea Bobea
Bitter yam Soi Hoi Hoi Dioscorea bulbifera
Beach cordia Tauanave Kou Pua taukanave Cordia subcordata
Cassava Manioka Manioka Mānioke Manihot esculenta
Canarium vitiense Maʻali Canarium vitiense
Candelabra bush Lāʻau failafa Senna alata
Candlenut Lama Kukui Tuitui Tiʻaʻiri Aleurites moluccana
Cashew tree ʻApu initia Anacardium occidentale
Centotheca lappacea Sefa Centotheca lappacea
Chaff-flower Lau tamatama Achyranthes aspera
Chili pepper Polo feʻu Capsicum annuum
Citron Tipolo Citrus medica
Coconut Niu Niu Niu kokonati Cocos nucifera
Coconut Plant Sprout Oʻo Cocos nucifera
Coral tree Gatae Erythrina variegata
Derris or New Guinea Creeper ʻAva niukini Derris malaccensis
Diospyros samoensis Auʻauli Diospyros samoensis
Dysoxylum samoense Maota (maota mamala) Dysoxylum samoense
Epipremnum pinnatum Fue lau fao Epipremnum pinnatum
Earth (soil) ʻEleʻele Lepo Hakau Aʻau Kere
Fiveleaf Yam Piʻa Dioscorea pentaphylla
Fish poison tree Futu Barringtonia asiatica
Flower Pua Pua Matala Tiare Puaka
Garden Spurge Vao āpulupulu Chamaesyce hirta, Euphorbia hirta
Giant Taro ʻApe ʻApe Kape Alocasia macrorrhizos
Giant Taro Ta‘amū ʻApe Kape Alocasia macrorrhizos
Ginger Fiu ‘Awapuhi Pākē Sinisā Zingiber officinale
Glochidion ramiflorum Maota Glochidion ramiflorum
Glory bower Aloalo tai Clerodendrum inerme, Volkameria inermis
Great Morinda Nonu Noni Nonu Nono Morinda Citrifolia
Guava Kuʻava Kuawa Kuava Tūava Kuāwa Psidium guajava
Guest tree Fuʻafuʻa Kleinhovia hospita
Hibiscus (Beach) Fau Hau Fau Pūrau Hibiscus tiliaceus
Hibiscus (Red) ʻAute Sāmoa Aloalo Kaute ʻAute Ponga Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Indian mulberry Nonu vao Noni Nonu Nono Morinda citriflolia
Ironwood Toa Casuarina equisetifolia
Kava ʻAva ʻAwa Kava ʻAva Kava Piper methysticum
Koa Koa Acacia Koa
Koaiʻa Koaiʻa Acacia Koaia
Lama Lama Diospyros sandwicensis
Lanceleaf Tongue Fern Lau tasi Pyrossia lanceolata
Leather fern Lau gasese Davallia solida
Lemon grass Moegalo Cymbopogon citratus
Lesser Trema Māgele Trema cannabina
Limeberry Talafalu Micromelum minutum
Macropiper puberlum or Piper puberulum ʻAvaʻava aitu Macropiper puberlum or Piper puberulum
Maile Maile Alyxia stellata
Maile Maile Alyxia oliviformis
Malay apple Nonu fiʻafiʻa ʻŌhiʻa ʻai Fekika kai Syzygium malaccense
Mango Mago Manakō Mango Mangifera indica
Mile-a-minute vine Fue saina Mikania micrantha
Mountain Apple Nonu fiʻafiʻa ʻŌhiʻa ʻai Fekika kai Syzygium malaccense
Musk (Maile scented) Fern Lau magamaga Lauaʻe Laufale Metuapuaʻa Microsorum/Phymatosorus grossus or scolopendria
Mokihana Mokihana Melicope anisata
Myrsine Kōlea Myrsine
Manioc Manioka Manioka Mānioke Manihot esculenta
New Guinea Creeper or Derris ʻAva niukini Derris malaccensis
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Metrosideros polymorpha
Otaheite apple Spondias dulcis
Oil-nut Fetau Kamani, Kamanu Fetaʻu Calophyllum inophyllum
Polynesian arrowroot Pia Tacca leontopetaloides
Paper mulberry Uʻa Wauke Hiapo Broussonetia papyrifera
Potato Pateta Solanum tuberosum
Pacific Mussaenda or Pacific flag-tree Aloalo vao Mussaenda raiateensis
Pacific rosewood Milo Milo Milo Thespesia populnea
Papaya Esi Mīkana Lesi ʻĪʻitā Papaia Carica papaya
Paper mulberry Uʻa Wauke Hiapo Aute Aute Broussonetia papyrifera
Pepper elder Vao Vai Peperomia pellucida
Perfume tree Mosoʻoi Lanalana Mohokoi Motoʻoi Cananga odorata
Piper graeffei Fue manogi Piper graeffei
Piper puberulum or Macropiper puberlum ʻAvaʻava aitu Piper puberulum or Macropiper puberlum
Plant Lāʻau Plant
Plumeria Pua Melia Kalosipani Tīpanīe Plumeria
Polyscias Tagitagi Polyscias
Premna serratifolia Aloalo Premna serratifolia
Psychotria insularum Masame Psychotria insularum
Red Ginger (Ornamental) Teuila ‘Awapuhi ‘ula‘ula Alpinia purpurata
Rorippa - longrunner Aʻatasi Rorippa sarmentosa
Rukam Filimoto Flacourtia rukam
Screwpine Fasa Hala Fa Fara Rauhara Pandanus tectorius
Screwpine Fala Hala Fa Fara Rauhara Pandanus tectorius
Sea mango Leva Cerbera manghas
Shampoo Ginger ʻAvapui ʻAwapuhi Kuahiwi Angoango Zingiber zerumbet
Simpleleaf chastetree Namulega Vitex trifolia
Small-leaved fig or Banyan ʻAoa Ficus obliqua
Soap bush Fisoa Colubrina asiatica
Sugar cane Tolo Saccharum officinarum
Sweet Potato ʻUmala ʻUala Ipomoea batatas
Syzygium corynocarpum Seasea Syzygium corynocarpum
Sea trumpet Tauanave Kou Pua taukanave Cordia subcordata
Soil ʻEleʻele Lepo Hakau Aʻau Kere
Tabasco Chili pepper Polo feʻu Capsicum annuum
Tahitian chestnut Inocarpus fagifer Ifi
Tahitian gardenia Pua Sāmoa Gardenia taitensis
Tarenna sambucina Maʻanunu Tarenna sambucina
Taro Talo Kalo Talo Taro Taro Colocasia esculenta
Taro bud, young shoot from corm Lauvai ʻOhā Colocasia esculenta
Taro bud, young shoot from corm Soesoe ʻOhā Colocasia esculenta
Taro cutting/top used for planting Tiapula Colocasia esculenta
Taro Leaf Lu‘au Lū‘au Colocasia esculenta
Taro petiole, (individual) stalk Colocasia esculenta
Taro plantation Maʻumaga Loʻi Ngoue Paʻi Taro Māra
T-grass Vao lima Paspalum conjugatum
Ti plant ʻAutī Tī pore Cordyline fruticosa
Tree Fern ʻOliʻolī Hāpuʻu Ponga
Tropical almond Talie Terminalia catappa
Turmeric Ago (Lega) ʻOlena Ango Curcuma longa
ʻUkiʻuki ʻUkiʻuki Dianella sandwicensis
Wax Gourd Fangu Benincasa hispida
Wiliwili Wiliwili Erythrina sandwicensis
Wingleaf soapberry Aʻe Sapindus saponaria
Wax flower Fue sele la Hoya australis
Wild capegooseberry Vī vao Physalis angulata
Wild fig Mati Ficus tinctoria
Wild ginger ʻAvapui ʻAwapuhi Angoango Zingiber zerumbet
Wild ginger ʻAva pui vao ʻAwapuhi Angoango Zingiber zerumbet
Yam Ufi Uhi Dioscorea

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