https://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ti_%28plant%29Ti (plant) - Revision history2026-04-13T16:34:55ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.35.3https://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?title=Ti_(plant)&diff=10328&oldid=prevEnvoy at 15:53, 20 October 20072007-10-20T15:53:56Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Taxobox<br />
| color = lightgreen<br />
| name = ''Cordyline fruticosa''<br />
| image = Cordyline_terminalis_dsc03651.jpg<br />
| image_width = 240px<br />
| image_caption = Foliage<br />
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae<br />
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]<br />
| classis = [[monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]<br />
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]<br />
| familia = [[Laxmanniaceae]]<br />
| genus = ''[[Cordyline]]''<br />
| species = '''''C. fruticosa'''''<br />
| binomial = ''Cordyline fruticosa''<br />
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L]].) A. Chev.<br />
}}<br />
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'''''Cordyline fruticosa''''' ('''Ti''' plant, also known as the '''good luck plant'''), is an [[evergreen]] [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Laxmanniaceae]], formerly treated in the family [[Agavaceae]]. It is a [[woody plant]] growing up to 4 m tall, with leaves 30-60 cm (rarely 75 cm) long and 5-10 cm wide at the top of a woody stem. It produces 40-60 cm long [[panicle]]s of small scented yellowish to red [[flower]]s that mature into red [[berry|berries]]. It is native to tropical southeastern [[Asia]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Melanesia]], northeastern [[Australia]], [[Indian Ocean]]<ref>On the island of [[Réunion]] ([[Indian Ocean]]), ti is called "langue de femme" (women's tongue)</ref> and parts of [[Polynesia]]. It is not native to [[Hawaii]] or [[New Zealand]] but exists on those islands as a feral weed introduced by Polynesian settlers. <ref name="itfgs">http://www.itfgs.org/htm/cordyline.htm</ref><br />
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===Cultivation and uses===<br />
The Ti plant is most closely associated with [[Polynesia]], its [[starch]]y [[rhizome]]s, which are very sweet when the plant is mature, were eaten as food or as medicine, and its leaves were used to [[thatch]] the roofs of houses, and to wrap and store food. The plant or its roots are referred to in most Polynesian languages as ''tī''. Variants include ''kī'' ([[Hawaiian language|Hawai{{okina}}ian]]), ''sī'' ([[Tongan language|Tongan]]), and ''{{okina}}autī'' ([[Tahitian language|Tahitian]]).<ref name="itfgs" /> Ti leaves were also used to make items of [[clothing]] including skirts worn in dance performances. The Hawai{{okina}}ian hula skirt is a dense skirt, an opaque layer of at least 50 green leaves with the bottom (top of the leaves) shaved flat. The Tongan dance dress, the ''sisi'', is an apron of about 20 leaves, worn over a [[tupenu]], and decorated with some yellow or red leaves (see picture at [[Ma'ulu'ulu|Mā{{okina}}ulu{{okina}}ulu]]).<ref name="itfgs" /> <br />
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In ancient [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]] Ti was thought to have great spiritual power; only high priests and chiefs were able to wear leaves around their necks during certain ritual activities. Ti leaves were also used to make [[Lei (Hawaii)|lei]], and to outline borders between properties (for which its alternative name: ''terminalis)''. To this day some Hawaiians plant Ti near their houses to bring good luck. The leaves are also used for [[lava sledding]]. A number of leaves are lashed together and people ride down hills on them.<br />
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Ti is a popular [[ornamental plant]], with numerous [[cultivar]]s available, many of them selected for green or reddish or purple foliage. <br />
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==Synonymy==<br />
*''Convallaria fruticosa'' L. (basionym)<br />
*''Asparagus terminalis'' L. ''nom. illeg.''<br />
*''Cordyline terminalis'' (L.) [[Carl Sigismund Kunth|Kunth]]<br />
*''Cordyline terminalis'' var. ''ferra'' Baker<br />
*''Dracaena terminalis'' L. ''nom. illeg.''<br />
*''Dracaena terminalis'' [[Louis Claude Richard|Rich.]]<br />
*''Terminalis fruticosa'' (L.) Kuntze<br />
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==References==<br />
<references/><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Okolehao]], a liquor made from Ti roots.<br />
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== Gallery ==<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Tiblossoms.jpg|Blooms of ti plant<br />
Image:Tiberries.jpg|Berries of ti plant<br />
</gallery><br />
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==Notes==<br />
<references/><br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027601 Flora of China: ''Cordyline fruticosa'']<br />
* Sir Apenera Short, a former [[Cook Islands]] [[Queen's Representative]] (1990-2000) dressed in tī leaves. [http://qbr.melbourne2006.com.au/?s=qbrphotogallerydisplay&gid=83&seq=6]<br />
[[Category:Asparagales]]<br />
[[Category:Root vegetables]]</div>Envoy