Coronopus didymus

Plant Name: Coronopus didymus
Hawaiian Name: LAU KÄNE
English Name: Swinecress
Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)
Status in Hawai’i: Alien. Low to moderate pest factor.
Where it grows in Hawai’i: Upcountry
Part Used: Leaves, tops

Uses:

  • Lau käne, named after my teacher Uncle Bill Kanekoa, is used in Hawaiian medicine internally for respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. It has a very distinctive taste.

  • The leaves are edible and have a strong pungent taste. They can be cooked or used raw in salads.

  • Lau käne is used in South America for phlegm in the lungs, malaria, to improve digestion and for cancer. In Great Britain it is used for warts, and in both Argentina and Spain for scurvy.

Caution: May cause skin reactions if used topically