When talking about fruits, we usually think of those that are brightly colored and with a sweet scent. But there are always some exceptions. Noni is one of those fruits that neither looks nor smells good. It has such a pungent smell that people call it "vomit fruit."

But don't judge a book by its cover. Noni is considered highly valuable in many traditional medicine. For example, Polynesian healers have used the fruit to treat high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases for thousands of years. In Hawaii, people extract yellowish dye from its roots.

The fruit-bearing tree, scientifically known as Morinda citrifolia, grows in Southeast Asia and Australasia. It's also an attractive place for weaver ants, who are known for their excellent skills of weaving leaves via larval silk.

About 'Plants & Nations' 

"Plants & Nations" is a series of articles and pictures about common plants in the world. It serves as a guide to beautiful plants from different countries. 

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Plants & Nations

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