Popolo is a Member of the nightshade family. It is herbaceous, from one to three feet high. Annual, shrublike. It has small, thin ovate leaves, from one to four inches long, with more or less wavy edges. Three to ten white flowers, each about ¼ inch wide, are borne in pendant, umbel- like structures. Ripe fruits are purplish black, juicy, edible berries about 3/8 inch in diameter.
In Hawai, in earlier times, the berries were eaten on journeys, became more or less important as food during famines. Westerners used them instead of blueberries.
In former days it was said that popolo was the foundation of Hawaiian medicine. The leaves of popolo, were used for medicine, and without the addition of any other plants. Young leaves were eaten raw along with a meal to prevent bloating and appendicitis. The leaves were also used, either raw or cooked, for coughs. It is as pecificum against Asthma. Also, eather raw or cooked or made as a tea they were used as a tonic. For eyeproblems, such as iinflamed eyes, a compress of mashed leaves was applied. Leaves pounded with salt were used for wounds in general.
