Uhaloa or Sleepy morningMalvaceae (Mallow family)USA Range: Arizona, Texas, Alabama and Florida. Indigenous? to the Hawaiian Islands (All the main Hawaiian Islands and on Midway Atoll or Pihemanu in the Northwest Islands)Photo: Pearl City, OahuHabit
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5002209884/in/photostream/Early Hawaiians used uhaloa medicinally for asthma, neuralgia, and a pain killer when mixed with other plants.Leaves were pounded and used for filling in cracks on canoes (waa) instead of pitch.Medicinally, in the Hawaiian Islands uhaloa is still used even if other traditional plants are not in use. When mixed with certain other plants uhaloa is used for sore throats, bronchial infections, and asthma. The bitter roots are used much like aspirin is today.The plant is used throughout the Americas. One reference source outlines the importance of Walthera indica: "A tropical shrub, the whole plant (roots, leaves, buds and flowers) is used against chronic asthma. This plant has anti inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Other uses include: cortex (root bark); chewed as a very effective natural medicine for sore throat. Internally for arthritis, neuralgia, common cold, cough, bronchial phlegm or mucous, diarrhea, eye baths, fatigue; used as a bitter tonic."EtymologyThe generic name Waltheria is named for botanist Augustin Friedrich Walther (1688-1746), a professor from Leipzig, Germany.The specific epithet indica is from the Latin name for India (or perhaps the Orient).The varietal name americana is Latin for the Americas or America.
nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Waltheria_indica