Taakempai

The taakempai /taː.ce.ᵐpai̯/ (earth's bone) is a type of tree native to Mpaikewuu’akehau’a.

Description

It grows to be from 8 to 10m in height. It has a long, smooth trunk, and a wide, dense canopy. It's leaves resemble pentagons in shape, and are about the size of one's palm. It's wood is incredibly hard, with steel blades not being able to pierce it. If one manages to cut it down it's wood burns well.

The taakempai is self-pollinating and fruit bearing. It's flowers are small and white. The taakempai fruit is small and round, on average it has a diameter of 8mm-1cm. It is bright orange, and tastes sweet, to attract birds, on which it relies to spread it's seeds.

Uses

The fruits of the tree are sometimes eaten by the native population of Mpaikewuu'akehau'a. The seeds are planted in a specially shaped thin and long pot, with a small side opening to water it, so that the plant, seeking sunlight and constricted by the vessel's shape grows outwards. After it reaches a sufficient lenght, the pot is smashed open, and then, after the plant dies due to lack of nutrients and water, and it's canopy and roots are burned off, the remaining long stick can be used as a durable handle for tools. This process however takes a long time, so such tools are considered valuable, and are often passed down from parent to offspring.