Kawakawa

Piper excelsum, formerly Macropiper excelsum, of the pepper family, Piperaceae, and commonly known as kawakawa, is a small tree. The subspecies P. excelsum subsp. excelsum is endemic to New Zealand, and P. e. subsp. psittacorum is found on Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands. Kawakawa is found throughout the North Island and as far south as Ōkārito on the West Coast. The leaves are often covered with holes made by the caterpillar of the kawakawa looper moth. The name comes from the Māori word for the bitter taste of the leaves, kawa. The Māori used it as a traditional medicinal plant. An infusion of the leaves or roots was used, or the leaves were chewed to relieve toothache, and wounds were bound in the leaves. Leaves with holes eaten by caterpillars were considered best. At a marae the hosts wave kawakawa leaves to welcome guests, and at a tangi both hosts and guests may wear wreaths of kawakawa on the head as a sign of mourning.