ARCH 696 On Behalf of Plants - Annino

ARCH 696

- Field Investigations of and Speculations on Hawai'i's Botanical Future-

SPR 2020

On Behalf of Plants:

01 Collect C01

Plant Chronicles

C02

Mapping Migration

C03

Plant Portraiture

C04

Plant Morphology

C05

Plant Practices

02 Document D01

Experiments in Plant Media

D02

Modeling Morphology

D03

Dimensions of Production + Performance

D04

Experiments in Performance Outputs

03 Speculate S01

Dimensions of Plant Potentials

S02

Scales of Plant Potentials + Alternative Narratives

S03

Exhibits in Speculation

C01 Plant Chronicles

Historical Crop Cultivation

Annino

Ipomoea batatas, or commonly known as the sweet potato, can trace its origins from northwestern South America. A few common misconceptions of the sweet potato is that one, the plant was first introduced and spread throughout the world by means of Christopher Columbus and his crew that he lead, and two that the sweet potato is a actual potato.

The first misconception that Christopher Columbus was responsible for the spread of the Ipomoea batatas throughout the world has been disputed and proven to be false due to prehistoric archaeologic evidence suggesting that the plants original exodus from South America was through Polynesia around 1000 to 1100 CE. Its spread into Polynesia can also be traced through linguistical data. Here in Hawaii Ipomoea batatas was introduced to these lands by the fist voyaging Polynesians, kanaka maoli, and refered to as 'uala where it was cultivated extensively throughout the islands.

The second misconception that Ipomoea batatas belongs to the same family as potatos, Solanum tuberosum, which is the Solanaceae family. In fact 'uala (Ipomoea batatas) belongs to the Convolvulaceae, or morning glory family where the plants in this family have a distinct, and recognizable, funnel-shaped radially symmetrical flower.

Ipomoea batatas has become a widely cultivated crop in every continent that humans inhabit. As we move forward we will see the commercial impacts that sweet potato played throughout the world and examine the cultural importance that 'uala had on the native peoples of Hawaii.

01 Collect

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SPR 2020

Annino

'Uala Timeline

HISTORY OF THE IPOMEA BATATAS SWEETPOTATO

‘UALA

ARCH 696

IPOMEA BATATAS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE SWEETPOTATO, IS DOMESTICATED IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC.

CARBON DATING ESTABLISHES THE ARRIVAL OF THE SWEET POTATO TO POLYNESIA VIA THE COOK ISLANDS THROUGH POLYNESIAN VOYAGING.

THE ARRIVAL OF EUROPEANS TO THE AMERICAS PROMOTES THE MIGRATION OF THE SWEET POTATO TO EUROPE.

2500 BCE

1400 CE

1500 CE

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: MEDICINAL - COMBINED WITH NIU WAI (COCONUT WATER) AND KI (TI LEAF) TO CURE NAUSEA. FOOD - STEAMED IN AN ‘IMU (UNDERGROUND OVEN) AND MASHED AND EATEN, LEAVES AND STEMS ALSO EATEN, LEFT TO FERMENT TO CREATE A SWEET POTATO BEER. RITURAL - USED AS A HO‘OKUPU (OFFERING, GIFT) TO THE AKUA LONO, IS A KINOLAU (BODY FORM) OF LONO.

1600 CE

THE SWEET POTATO MIGRATION TO THE OUTLYING ISLANDS OF ASIA SUCH AS JAPAN AND OKINAWA.

1700 CE

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

Commercial Advertisements

Annino

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C02 Mapping Migration

Annino

'Uala roots stem from the north west area of South America to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Some of the varities found in Peru date back 8,000 years and it is in this area of the world where the 'uala began its journey around the world. From South and Central America the 'uala spread first to its Caribbean neighboring islands. Three major migrations ensued once the 'uala spread out of its terrestrial boundaries and across the seas and the oceans.

Its first major migration was from South America into Polynesia were voyaging travelers brought the starchy root vegetable to the islands of Polynesia. This migration was discovered when remnants of the plant was discovered dating as far back as 1000 to 1100 CE. However, this was not the only evidence that pointed to the long migration journey of 'uala across the Pacific. Linguistical similarities can be seen throughout the islands of the Pacific from Rapa Nui, east to Papua New Guinea and north the southern islands of the Philipines. The Quechua people of South America called the sweet potato cumal or kumara and what we can see as it voyaged from South America to the far eastern edge of the Pacific the term kumara morphed into kuma'a in the Marquesas, to 'uala in the Hawaiian Islands, and kumara (same terminology in Quechua) in western Papua New Guinea.

The second major migration happened on behalf of the Portugues and the voyaging journey of Christopher Columbus. This route went from the Yucatan and Caribbean area introducing the 'uala into Europe, Africa, north and south west Asia.

The final migration was from Mexico back across the pacific into the Philipines by the Spanish and spreading north into China, Japan and Korea.

01 Collect

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SPR 2020

Annino

'Uala Plant Migration

A TAT BA

U’ALA

KAMOTE

CAMOTE, KAMOTE

CALMOTIL CAMOTE

KUM AL KO UM

ARA

KUALA, UMALA

KUMA‘A, ‘UUMA’A S BATATA, PATATA

KU

M ARA

MARA UU

KU

A ALA

A L A, OO M AR A

TIM

‘

M

A AL UM

AL

CUMAL, COMAL, KUMARA, CUMAR, KUMAL

KUUARA, ‘UUARA, KUUMARA

KU MA RA

KU

M

KUMAL A

K U UM

AR

A,

POLYNESIAN, 1100 SPANISH, 1500 PORTUGUESE, 1400

ARCH 696

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C03 Plant Portraiture

Annino

Ipomoea batatas, sweet potato ('uala), is a starchy root vegetable with a root system that is described as a tuberous root system. The leaves are irregualr in shape and also tend to vary depending on the variety. They come in both cordate (heart) and hastate (spear) shapes with the former being a vivd green color and the latter having a dark green to deep, almost translucent, purple color. The leaves grow in a spiral formation around the central stem and the edges can be characterized as smooth or serrated.

The root system of the 'uala produces elongated starchy tubers that vary greatly in texture, color and shape. These characteristics are dependent on the variety of the 'uala. The starchy flesh of the tubers come in white, yellow, orange and purple and also vary in sweetness. The skin of the tubers can also vary in color and can be seen in red, purple, brown, or white.

'Uala can grow upright but is often seen as a creeper plant used highly as ground cover. The vine-like stems creep along the ground sending off shoots to penetrate the soil creating more instances for the starch tubers to grow.

The flower of the 'uala is one of its defining characteristics into the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) familiy. These beautiful white to pale violet, funnel-shaped, symmetrical flower perfectly accents the light green to dark green and deep purple leaves of the plant.

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SPR 2020

Leaf

Stamen

Flower

Flower Section

Fruit

ARCH 696

Annino

'Uala Portraiture

Pistil

Tuber

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

'Uala Root System

Annino

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

'Uala Characteristics

Annino

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C04 Plant Morphology SPR 2020

Annino

Unlike most vegetable plants 'uala's growth happens from two ways, its tubers or cuttings from its tubers called slips. If new plantings are established from the tubers it is important to identify the head of the tuber or the proximal end. This end was once where the tuber joined the main stem of the plant and where the new plant will begin to sprout creating slips. The slips will form where the "eyes" of the potato are. It is easy to initiate the growth of 'uala. All that needs to be done is to suspend the 'uala and place the distal end in water. This will allow the 'uala to send out roots into the water, beginning the growth cycle. Typically the growth will be primarily in the root system. Once the root system has established itself the proximal end of the tuber will begin sprouting a short stem with small, light green, leaves at the end. At this stage the newly formed slip is still too small to cut away from the tuber to form another 'uala plant. When the roots are fully established and the stem of the new slip has grown to about 4-6 inches you may cut the slip away from the tuber, making sure to keep a piece of the tuber with the slip, and plant it in soil creating another 'uala plant.

Although rare, the 'uala can be grown from seed. This tends not to be the prefered method of cultivation as seeds are hard to find and even when one does find them it takes scarification of the outter shell of the seed in order for the roots to begin to sprout in a timely manner.

01 Collect ARCH 696

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

Morphological Animation Sketches

Annino

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C05 Plant Practices SPR 2020

Annino

Planting of 'uala took on many forms. In most regions of the world 'uala is farmed commercially equating to large scale production and cultivation. The harvesting cycle of 'uala is typically 3 to 4 months from the time that a farmer plants the 'uala slip. They are typically grown in the souther regions of the continental United States due to the warmer temperatures in that region of the country. What suprises most people is how easy 'uala is to grow. With only a few slips anyone could grow an abundance of 'uala due to its generous production.

Just like any other garden or crop you have to tend to 'uala from time to time.

Traditionally, Hawaiians would grow 'uala in mounds or rows depending on the availability of space to grow. They would often grow a crop in fallow lo'i (kalo terrace) after harvesting of the kalo, cycling from 'uala to kalo. 'Uala's cultural significance to Hawaiians was just about as equal as kalo and was viewed as the kinolau (earthly embodiment) of the akua (god) Lono. Offerings of 'uala were made to Lono to signify a good harvest.

Once harvested on the commercial scale 'uala needed to sit and cure in order for them to obtain a sweet taste. Curing of 'uala also allowed for a second skin to form over the bruised portions of the potato that occurs when harvesting.

The typical duration that the 'uala must cure is between 10 to 14 days in a warm place with high humidity. Once cured place and store the 'uala in a root cellar or someplace cool allowing the tubers to last for about 6 months.

01 Collect ARCH 696

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

Plant Practices Sketches

Annino

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D01 Experiments in Plant Media SPR 2020

'Uala Pattern + 'Uala Paint

Annino

A common practice here in Hawaii is using the natural patterns found in plants and nature as motifs in clothing. Aloha shirts and Mu'umu'u (Hawaiian full length dress) have all adorn cleverly abstracted patterns vibrantly colored, catching the eye of people all over the world. These patterns are repeated throughout the textile industry and even spread past its usage as clothing to patterns on couch cushions, quilts, and rugs.

'Uala is typically not seen as a popular pattern for the textile industry but given its cultural significance one could imagine that the abstraction of the different leaf shapes could produce a desirable pattern. Besides being a kinolau of the akua Lono, 'uala plays a significant role in another Hawaiian story, the story of Kamapua'a, the pig god. The connection to this story can be seen if you abstract the shape of one of the leaf types of the 'uala. Through this abstraction you can begin to picture the head of the pig where the long snout is the broad, spear-shaped protion of the leaf, proceeding back to the tusks (smaller spearshaped leaves), and the ears (the smallest portion of the leaf).

In this portion of the portfolio the simple abstractions of the two different leaf shapes where utilized in conjustion with the funnel shape of the flower. The media used for this portion was watercolor paper as the canvas, graphite to sketch out the pattern and watered down and blended flesh portion of the 'uala as "paint". The variety of 'uala used was the Okinawan variety for its deep purple color but after using it as a type of paint the flesh turned from a vibrant purple to a cool, chaulky, grey-purple color.

02 Document ARCH 696

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

'Uala Pattern

Annino

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D02 Dimensions of Production + Performance

Annino

‘Uala (sweet potato) was brought on the Polynesian voyaging canoes that traveled great distances throughout the Pacific. The Polynesians brought few varieties of ‘uala to the Hawaiian Islands and over time those few varieties greatly increased through natural hybridization, cross-pollination, and mutations.

‘Uala would be considered the secondary crop to kalo (taro) and could be grown in a number of conditions throughout the tropics.

The ‘uala was such a hearty plant that could grow in just about any condition.

It could be grown in soils that contained semi-disintegrated lava and decaying foliage that provided the organic matter to stimulate growth. This method was often used in combination with surrounding rocks; creating pu‘e (mounds) of varying sizes, in no particular order or exactness, with ‘uala stems and vines planted within the dry soil. In traditional Hawaiian cultivation, irrigation of mala ‘uala (sweet potato gardens) wasn’t necessary. Because of its status as a secondary crop to kalo, ‘uala would often see water diverted from lo‘i kalo (wetland taro patches) during the wet seasons and would be a crop substitute within the lo‘i when waters didn’t flow enough to cultivate kalo.

‘Uala has the potential to produce a hearty crop as a singular crop. However, ‘uala can be intercropped with other plants such as legumes, okra, mai‘a (banana), ‘ulu (breadfruit), and niu (coconut). The latter three being small to medium trees suggests that ‘uala can also be considered as a ground cover for small scale agroforestry.

02 Document

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SPR 2020

'Uala Traditional Mound Cultivation

Annino

Sweet Potato Commercial Cultivation

3’

3’

50’

50’

3’0”

2’0”

50’

50’

Traditional mala planting - rectangle with ridges

Traditional mala planting - square grid with mounds

3’

1’0”

0’18”

0’ ARCH 696

5’

10’

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D03 Dimensions of Ethnobotanical Cultivation

Annino

As stated in previous portions of this portfolio 'uala has played minor and significant roles in the native Hawaiian culture. From its journey across oceans to its placement in the land of these island, 'uala has been seen as a plant that offers an array of ethnobotanical uses.

When one thinks of Hawaii the thought often conjures up images of women dancing hula in grass skirts and wearing a lei. In the ethnobotanical uses of 'uala it is the making of a lei where Hawaiians utilized one of the aspects of this plant. Lei making didn't always include fragrant flowers. In the practice of lei 'uala the stems, vines, and leaves of the 'uala were twisted and tied off into a lei where nursing mothers would wear the lei to aid in the flow of their own milk for their hungry keiki (child). It was believed that the dripping milk that accompanied the cuttings of the 'uala stem stimulated a mother's breast milk to flow.

Hawaiian ceremonial ethnobotanical usage, Lei ‘Uala made and worn by nursing mothers to ensure milk flow.

Another no-so-typical use for 'uala in Hawaiian culture was as a padding material. In traditional hale (Hawaiian homes) the foliage of the 'uala would be utilized as a sort of padding or cushion between the stone foundation of the hale and the lauhala mat that was laid on the ground surface of the hale. This made the ground softer for the occupants to enjoy.

The last ethnobotanical use of 'uala was simple, it was used as a food source.

It was often steamed in an 'imu (underground oven) and eaten or it could be cooked in conjunction with other traditonal cultivated plants like kalo (taro). A traditional Hawaiian dish, laulau would be made using the leaves and stalk of the kalo and filled with either animal meat or for the "vegan" option, you guessed it, 'uala.

02 Document

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SPR 2020

'Uala Ethnobotanical Uses

Annino

Kapi‘o Hale

‘Uala Old leaves and stems used as padding under traditional hale Traditional Cultivation field

50’

50’

Storage roots eaten with another important crop, kalo

Ipomoea batatas Lau Kalo

ARCH 696

‘Uala Laulau

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D04 Experiments in Ethnobotanical Production

Annino

‘Uala (sweetpotato) has many ethnobotanical uses throughtout the world. Its main cultivation and production is mostly used for cultural dishes like the one pictured on the adjacent page. In Hawaiian culture the ‘uala was a plant that was easily grown, cultivated, and incorporated with other culturally significant crops like kalo (taro).

The laulau, a traditional Hawaiian dish which uses all of the leafy parts of the kalo as a wrap and filled with either pork, chicken, fish, and ‘uala. Today we can find that this delicious traditional Hawaiian dish is often served with cubed pork, a little pork fat for flavoring, and pa‘akai (sea salt). The laulau wasn’t always made this way due to the fact that pork wasn’t as easily accessible as it is today.

Domestication of pigs wasn’t common practice in traditional Hawaiian culture therefore hunting wild pigs took a lot of effort and could also be extremely dangerous. For this reason traditional laulau was often filled with meat from animals that Hawaiians did domesticate and Hawaiians second most important crop, ‘uala.

The dish pictured on the adjacent page is composed of a traditional laulau filled with ‘uala, onion, and coconut milk. Also served with the laulau is Okinawan Sweetpotato and ‘uala poi, another common Hawaiian dish that involved the pounding and mashing of sweetpotato into a consistantly thick paste.

02 Document

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SPR 2020

'Uala Culinary Experimentation

Co

ARCH 696

Annino

conut M il k

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SPR 2020

ARCH 696

'Uala Culinary Experimentation

Annino

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S01 + S02 Dimensions of Plant Potentials SPR 2020

Annino

Speculation for design can come from numerous instances that may inspire some sort of rethinking of the systems that surround our lives every day. This system was conceived because of a catalyst that could possibly cause a scarcity of the food supply in our local region. This catalyst has swept over swaths of the world in the form of a pandemic requiring people to practice social interactions that are way outside of the normal interactions that were once taken for granted.

For any of us who has spent a good portion of time living and working in Hawaii we understand that a large portion of our supplies are shipped in, daily, from the continental United States. Food is nothing different as some of the foods we eat on a regualr basis are shipped to the islands in large shipping containers packed onto enormous cargo ships. With the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and local and state governments encouraging residents to practice social distancing our supply line become increasingly burdened. Be it from the fewer and smaller shipments coming into the state or the fact that people feel the need to hoard supplies, the bottom line is that we still need to provide sustinance for ourselves and our families. This system is a possible small solution to this issue.

It is a vertical planting system that mimics the spiraling of 'uala stems and leaves along its central stem. The "stem" of the system serves a few purposes, one is that it acts as a counter balance to the cantilevered planter beds offsetting the weight of the planting material used. Another is that a portion of the core is hollow allowing space to install a drip irrigation system to feed water to each layer. And lastly, the stem is expandable, doubling in size growing along as your 'uala is growing.

01 Speculate ARCH 696

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S01 + S02 Dimensions of Plant Potentials SPR 2020

'Uala Haleku'i is a vertical growning system that is mirrored off of the natural spiral growing pattern of 'uala as well as its natural growing habit of growing up hill and on slopes. As in nature, the cantilevered grow boxes are arranged in a spiral pattern around a central core (main stem or vine). This central core acts as attachment point for each of the grow boxes and is situated to allow the 'uala growing in the lower boxes to creep and crawl up the boxes giving more room and growing media for the 'uala to thrive in.

Annino

'Uala Planting Grid

Hand Tools + Equipment

Gloves

Clippers

Hand Rack + Hand Shovels

Screwdriver

The central core has two functions to assist with the health and growth of the 'uala. The first function of the central core besides it being an attachment point is that it acts as a counter weight to the cantilevered planter boxes. The second function is that half of the central core is hallow allowing ample space for the drip irrigation lines to be run through the central core. The drip irrigation can be connected to any standard faucet and hose fitting and a timer can be used to ensure adequate irrigation.

The growing cycle is from 3-4 months at which time the leaves of the 'uala will begin to turn brownish and begin to fall off the plant. This signifies that the 'uala is ready for harvest. To harvest the planter boxes seperately first use clippers to cut away 'uala vines that grow into adjacent boxes, unscrew the (2) phillips head screws securing the planter box clamp to the central core and pull the entire planter box and clamp away from the central core. Once the planter box is removed from the central core use common garden hand tools (pictured) to dig up the 'uala. Once harvested you may use a few of the newly harvested 'uala to start more slips for future plantings and plant companion plants in its place to help restore nuturients back into the soil.

01 Speculate ARCH 696

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SPR 2020

Annino

‘Uala Haleku‘i Unit Elevation

2'-0 41 "

‘Uala Haleku‘i Unit

Initial planting

2 weeks

1 month

‘Uala Haleku‘i Single Layer Dimensions

Planting Medium Drip Irrigation Line Drip Irrigation Outlet

6.00"

4.00"

7.00"

Irrigation Inlet

12.00"

ARCH 696

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SPR 2020

‘Uala Haleku‘i Parts + Hardware

‘Uala Haleku‘i Assembly

Annino

Cap

Herbal Plantings Irrigation Channel

Companion Plantings Irrigation Line Access

Sweetpotato Planting Stackable Column Removable Collar

Guide Rods

Column Base

ARCH 696

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‘Uala Haleku‘i Scaled Elevation

‘Uala Haleku‘i Scaled Unit

Annino

3'-9 41 "

SPR 2020

ARCH 696

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SPR 2020

Annino

‘Uala Grown on the Lanai

‘Uala Haleku'i

Garden Tower for companion planting

15’0”

Lanai Elevation

ARCH 696

4’0”

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