maheanuu
TPF Noob!
This is a flower from the purau tree.. This tree is used for many different things.. Leaves are woven into mats to be used as a blanket over the food in an above ground oven (hima'a). They also were used as "plates" to hold food on, and toilet paper. The inner bark was woven into ropes, and also beaten into a very fiberous material called Tapa which was used as clothing.. The wood is very light and is used as floats for fishing baskets and the older trees they still use the wood as frames in boats as it will not split or crack easily after being worked...