Sapindus oahuensis

Sapindus oahuensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Sapindus
Species:
S. oahuensis
Binomial name
Sapindus oahuensis
Synonyms

Sapindus lonomea H.St.John[3]

Sapindus oahuensis is a species of tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is limited to Kauaʻi (Waimea Canyon) and Oʻahu (Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges).[4] Its common names include Āulu,[5] Oahu soapberry, alulu, kaulu, and lonomea.[2]

Fruits

It can be found in dry and moist forest habitat at elevations of 200 to 2000 feet.[4]

Āulu grows up to 18 m (59 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of 0.5 m (1.6 ft). It has alternately arranged, hairless leaves which have simple blades, unlike its congener, the wingless soapberry (S. saponaria), which has compound leaves. The leaves are somewhat thick and green with a yellow midvein. They are up to 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a panicle of many greenish yellow, bell-shaped male and female flowers. The fruit is a shiny, leathery berry roughly 2 centimeters long, containing one large black seed.[5]

The seeds were strung and used in leis.[5]

  1. ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Sapindus oahuensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T31364A9622279. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T31364A9622279.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Sapindus oahuensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  3. ^ "Sapindus oahuensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  4. ^ a b "Sapindus oahuensis Hillebrand (Sapindaceae)". National Tropical Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  5. ^ a b c Little, E. L. and R. G. Skolmen. Āulu, Sapindus oahuensis Hillebr. Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced). Agriculture Handbook no. 679. USDA Forest Service, 1989.