--- title: "What Tree Is It? | Noni: The Tree That Travelled with the Māori" description: Discover the intriguing story of the Noni tree, its cultural significance, and how it connects people across oceans through its unique characteristics and uses. image: https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Noni_tree.jpg --- - [Sustainable Business](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/sustainable-business) - [Green light](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/green-light) - [Treedom World](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/treedom-world) - [Green Focus](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/green-focus) Topics - [Sustainable Business](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/sustainable-business) - [Green light](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/green-light) - [Treedom World](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/treedom-world) - [Green Focus](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/green-focus) [Go to Treedom](https://www.treedom.net/en/) - ![](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/treedom-assets/flag/en.svg) - [![](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/treedom-assets/flag/it.svg)It](https://blog.treedom.net/it) - [![](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/treedom-assets/flag/de.svg)De](https://blog.treedom.net/de) - [![](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/treedom-assets/flag/fr.svg)Fr](https://blog.treedom.net/fr) - [![](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/treedom-assets/flag/es.svg)Es](https://blog.treedom.net/es) [Go to Treedom](https://www.treedom.net/en/) - [Blog](https://blog.treedom.net/en) - [trees](https://blog.treedom.net/en/tag/trees) - What Tree Is... # What Tree Is It? | Noni: The Tree That Travelled with the Māori *Oct 15, 2026* | written by: [*Tommaso Ciuffoletti*](https://blog.treedom.net/en/author/tommaso-ciuffoletti) Condividi - ![facebook share](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/facebook-icon-round.svg) - ![Twitter share](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/twitter-icon-round.svg) - ![LinkedIn share](https://blog.treedom.net/hubfs/Treedom_April2021/Images/linkedin-icon-round.svg) Some trees conquer the world with their beautiful flowers, others with their delicious fruit. [And then there is the Noni, also known as Indian mulberry (*Morinda citrifolia*), a tree we plant in Madagascar](https://www.treedom.net/en/plant-a-tree/noni-tree_2508)that has a rather less conventional claim to fame: when its fruit ripens, it gives off such a strong smell that it has earned the English nickname “cheese fruit”. Yet judging this small tropical tree by its scent alone would be a mistake. Behind its glossy leaves and curious-looking fruit lies a story that crosses oceans, encounters Hawaiian deities and reveals just how deeply a plant can become woven into the life of a community. The Noni is much more than an interesting botanical species. It is also a silent witness to human migrations, traditional knowledge and the relationships that have connected people with the plant world for centuries. [With Treedom, you can plant your own Noni as part of one of our projects. Read on to discover everything about this remarkable tree!](https://www.treedom.net/en/plant-a-tree/noni-tree_2508) ## A tree that stands out ![Noni\_tree\_2](https://blog.treedom.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Noni_tree_2.jpeg?width=516&height=387&name=Noni_tree_2.jpeg) The Noni belongs to the Rubiaceae family, the same family as coffee. It originates from the tropical regions of Asia and the area extending towards Australia, but today it can be found throughout many tropical parts of the world, including numerous Pacific islands. It is not a giant of the forest: it generally reaches 5–6 metres in height, although under favourable conditions it can grow up to 10 metres. Its crown is made up of large, oval, glossy leaves with very prominent veins. These can exceed 30 centimetres in length, creating an interesting contrast with the small white flowers that appear along its branches. Noni flowers do not grow individually. Instead, they are grouped into rounded clusters, rather like little spheres, and each flower contributes to the formation of the structure that will eventually become the fruit. At first glance, ripe Noni fruit can resemble a small pine cone. Its surface is irregular, marked by the traces left by individual flowers, and its colour gradually changes from green to yellowish-white as it ripens. But its most remarkable feature is botanical. What we call the fruit is actually a syncarp: a compound structure in which the fruits derived from several flowers develop closely together, forming a single mass. We encounter this phenomenon in other plant species too, but in Noni it produces a particularly distinctive shape. And then there is the smell. When the fruit reaches full maturity, its flesh softens and develops a pungent aroma, often compared to that of very mature cheese. It is not exactly the kind of fragrance we would expect from a tropical fruit. Yet this very characteristic offers an insight into the relationship between a plant and the people who live alongside it. What one person finds unpleasant can take on a different meaning in another cultural context, becoming part of the knowledge, practices and beliefs passed down through generations. In the case of Noni, its smell has even found its way into some Pacific folk traditions, where it has been associated with the ability to ward off spirits. But before exploring these stories, it is worth understanding how this tree managed to reach so many islands. ## The secret of its floating seeds Like those of many other species, Noni seeds have structures that help them float and allow them to survive for extended periods in salt water. This adaptation helps explain how the species can spread through coastal and island environments. Of course, not every seed that ends up in the sea will grow into a new tree. Germination requires favourable conditions, and the seed must reach a suitable environment. Nevertheless, the ability to travel long distances over water is a significant advantage for a species that also grows in territories separated by stretches of ocean. There is, however, another protagonist in this story: human beings. Across the Pacific, the movement of populations between islands also involved the circulation of plants that were useful in everyday life. Fruit trees, food crops and plants used to obtain fibres, dyes or traditional remedies accompanied people on their journeys. Noni is part of this story. Its spread throughout tropical regions cannot be attributed to a single cause: natural dispersal and human transport have played different roles in different places. We cannot reconstruct every journey taken by a Noni seed over the centuries. But we can recognise this plant as a fascinating example of how the movement of living organisms and the migrations of human societies can become intertwined. A small tree, in other words, capable of crossing the sea in more than one way. ## When Noni meets the Hawaiian gods ![Noni\_fruit](https://blog.treedom.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Noni_fruit.webp?width=1600&height=1067&name=Noni_fruit.webp) If its ability to travel across oceans belongs to the realm of botanical history, Noni's relationship with Pacific cultures takes us into an equally fascinating world. One of the most interesting accounts involving this tree comes from Hawaii and features two central figures in local tradition: Pele, associated with volcanoes and fire, and Kamapuaʻa, a deity linked to pigs, rain and vegetation. Their story belongs to a rich mythological universe of conflict, transformation and relationships between the forces of nature. And Noni appears in this context too. In a 2002 ethnobotanical study, botanist Will McClatchey refers to a Hawaiian chant recorded in 1861 and associated with the story of Kamapuaʻa and Pele. In one of its verses, Kamapuaʻa describes women gathering Noni, scraping it and pounding it, before using it in a process that leaves marks. What exactly were they doing? That is not entirely clear. The passage has also been interpreted in light of the traditional use of Noni to obtain dyes. The inner bark and roots of the plant can indeed yield colourants historically used in the treatment of materials and textiles. The chant may therefore refer to a practical activity embedded within a mythological narrative. We do not have enough evidence to treat this interpretation as certain or to reconstruct every detail of the scene. But that is precisely what makes the account interesting: Noni appears as a recognisable, useful plant, present in the cultural memory of the community. Botany and mythology meet in a seemingly minor detail that opens a small window onto a world in which plants were not simply organisms to be classified, but everyday presences with both practical and symbolic significance. ## To keep the spirits away The relationship between Noni and folk beliefs does not end with the Hawaiian chant. In some Pacific traditions, its strong smell has been associated with the ability to repel spirits or ghosts. The plant has also been used in traditional practices relating to ailments that were understood through spiritual beliefs. It is important to remember that these beliefs were not necessarily the same across all islands and communities. Speaking of a single, uniform Pacific tradition would risk overlooking important cultural differences. The interesting point, however, is something else: a physical characteristic of the plant, its pungent smell, could become part of a system of meanings extending beyond botany. Noni was therefore simultaneously a plant to be gathered, a resource to be used and a presence capable of entering the collective imagination. In this sense, folk traditions help us understand how people interpreted the environment around them, assigning meaning to the smells, shapes, colours and behaviours of living organisms. And with its unusually strong-smelling fruit, Noni certainly had a characteristic that was difficult to ignore. ## A plant with many uses Beyond its mythological stories, Noni has played a practical role in the everyday lives of several tropical communities. Its leaves, fruit, roots and bark have been used in different ways, depending on local traditions and circumstances. Some uses involved food, others the preparation of traditional remedies, and still others the production of dyes. This versatility helps explain why a species may have been preserved, transported and cultivated for generations. When a plant provides several resources, its value does not depend on a single product. It can become part of a body of knowledge through which people learn to recognise the useful parts of a plant, the best times to harvest them and the appropriate ways to process them. Of course, the existence of a traditional use does not automatically demonstrate that a product is medically effective. Noni juice, for example, has been marketed in recent decades with numerous health claims, but the available clinical evidence does not support many of the more ambitious promises made about it. Some Noni products have also been associated with health concerns, including possible liver-related effects. It is therefore important to distinguish the cultural history of the plant from modern claims about its medicinal properties. Ultimately, we do not need to attribute extraordinary powers to Noni to appreciate how fascinating it is. Its story is already rich in biological adaptations, traditional practices and tales passed down through time. ## A small tree with a big story ![Noni\_5](https://blog.treedom.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Noni_5.png?width=849&height=1188&name=Noni_5.png) Today, Noni grows in many tropical regions around the world. In Treedom's projects, too, where each species is integrated into a specific environmental and agricultural context, this tree forms part of a much broader story: the relationship between plants, people and places. Looking at it, we might see nothing more than a small tree with glossy leaves and irregular fruit. But a closer look reveals a world of floating seeds, ocean routes, plant dyes, ancient chants and folk beliefs. We do not know the precise journey that brought every Noni tree to the place where it grows today. Nor can we reconstruct every story that communities have associated with this species. But we can recognise a common feature shared by many plants that have accompanied human societies for centuries: their story does not end with biology. It becomes intertwined with techniques, habits, migrations and the human imagination. Noni is a good example of this. [A tree that can cross the sea through its seeds, become part of everyday life through its many uses and even appear in a chant dedicated to the gods.](https://www.treedom.net/en/plant-a-tree/noni-tree_2508) As for its smell, it may not win everyone over. But after discovering its story, it will be difficult to think of it as nothing more than a fruit that smells bad.   [![Plant now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8486845/70b00e29-df03-43ed-96a6-a067e58f0c62.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8486845/70b00e29-df03-43ed-96a6-a067e58f0c62) [![For businesses](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8486845/5521a90d-9d0e-459c-a0e2-719efc5b4c7e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8486845/5521a90d-9d0e-459c-a0e2-719efc5b4c7e) ### You may also want to read: [Show all](https://blog.treedom.net/en) - Trees - [Plant](https://www.treedom.net/en/plant-a-tree) - [Gift](https://www.treedom.net/en/gift-a-tree) - [Discover the tree' horoscopes](https://www.treedom.net/en/horoscope) - [Activate subscription](https://www.treedom.net/en/subscriptions) - Green ideas - [Capture CO2](https://www.treedom.net/en/co2) - [Your company](https://business.treedom.net/) - Impact - [Manifesto](https://www.treedom.net/en/manifesto) - [Agroforestry system](https://www.treedom.net/en/agroforestry) - [How we do it](https://www.treedom.net/en/projects) - [Countries](https://www.treedom.net/en/countries) - Who we are - [Treedom](https://www.treedom.net/en/about-us) - [Treedom in numbers](https://www.treedom.net/en/community) - [Team](https://www.treedom.net/en/team) - [Work with us](https://www.treedom.net/en/workwithus) - Need help? - [Customer Care](https://help.treedom.net/en) - [Contacts](https://www.treedom.net/en/contacts) - [Register of trees](https://www.treedom.net/en/page/register) ##### Social Copyright © 2020 Treedom s.r.l - [Legal information](https://www.treedom.net/en/page/contacts), [terms and conditions](https://www.treedom.net/en/page/terms), [privacy](https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/78150422), [cookie usage](https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/78150422/cookie-policy). 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