Botany of Kava Kava

Family name: Piperaceae
English name: kava
Pohnpeian name: sakau
Kosraean name: suhka
Yapese name: none
Chuukese name: sakaw
Habitat: terrestrial, usually grow in a shady, damp area. Best grown on the mountains in Pohnpei, but is native to many Pacific Ocean islands. The rhizome (underground stem) is used in modern herbal preparations.

There are several cultivars of kava, with varying concentrations of both primary and secondary psychoactive substances. The Republic of Vanuatu is recognised as the 'home' of kava because it hosts the largest number of cultivars. The kava plant has historically been grown only in the Pacific islands of Hawaii, Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Samoas and Tonga. In modern times (i.e., since WW2) there has been some kava grown in the Solomon Islands, but most kava used in that country is imported. Kava is a cash crop in Vanuatu and Fiji.

The kava plant, a shrub, thrives in well-drained soils and it grows well as an understory crop (i.e., too much sunlight, especially in early growth, is deleterious). It grows naturally where rainfall is plentiful (over 2,000mm/yr). Ideal growing conditions range from 20-35 celcius degrees, and 70-100% relative humidity. The soil it is kept in should be loose to ensure plenty of air reaching the root.

Kava is unable to sexually reproduce. Female flowers are especially rare and do not produce fruit even when hand-pollinated. Its propagation is entirely due to human efforts by the method of striking.

Traditionally, plants were not harvested until they were around 4 years of age, as older plants have higher concentrations of kavalactones. However, over the past two decades farmers have been harvesting younger and younger plants--even as young as eighteen months. Older plants are not much taller (around 2m.) than younger plants; growth adds diameter to the culm and more stalks than height. A grown plant's roots can reach up to 60 centimeters in depth.

Vegetative characteristics

Habit: shrub
Leaf shape/morphology: heart-shaped leaf, 10-13 form the base, up to 30 cm long.
Stem type: the stem has green swollen nodes that can reach up to 10ft. long.
Floral characteristics: the male flowers are arranged in a solitary, axillary, greenish white spikes up to 6cm long. The flower arises from a axil opposite a leaf. Female flowers are unknown, and this plant has never known to reproduce via traditional means.

Ethnobotanical information

Alkaloids

The kavalactones, sometimes referred to as kava-pyrones, are the most important active constituents in kava extracts. High-quality kava rhizome contains 5.5–8.3% kavalactones.  Medicinal extracts used in Europe contain 30–70% kavalactones. Kavalactones are thought to have anti-anxiety, mild analgesic (pain-relieving), muscle-relaxing, and anticonvulsant effects.  Some researchers speculate that kava may directly influence the limbic system, the ancient part of the brain associated with emotions and other brain activities. Kava is a unique anti-anxiety alternative because it does not seem to impair reaction time or alertness when used in the amounts recommended below.

Cuts

Pohnpei: Leaf of the sakau. If working in the forest and you cut yourself the juice from the leaf can be used to staunch the bleeding. Pound or squeeze the the leaf until the liquid comes out. Drip juice on the cut. Then cover the wound with a sakau leaf. Tie the leaf on to protect the wound.

Wrath assuasion

Sakau is a special kava plant on Pohnpei. Sakau is the only thing can turn aside the wrath of a king. Sakau calms things down. If offered sakau in appeasance, the king or any other person to whom it is offered must accept. Such as if you go to ask for permission to marry and the women's family does not agree with you marrying her, take sakau to the father, pound it, and offer him the cup. He must take the cup, it would be shameful to not accept the offer of sakau. "Sakau is like the only thing above [even] the king." - Jaymie Inos. Fall 2002.