Pittosporum hosmeri, which also goes by Hō'awa, Hāʻawa, ʻaʻawa, ʻaʻawa hua kukui, or Kona cheesewood is a Perennial Dicot endemic to the island of Hawai'i.[2][3][4] It is a species of tree in the Pittosporaceae family. This species is listed as endangered and is endemic to the islands.
| Pittosporum hosmeri | |
|---|---|
| |
| Growing in dry forest on the lower slopes of Hualālai | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Pittosporaceae |
| Genus: | Pittosporum |
| Species: | P. hosmeri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pittosporum hosmeri | |
Description
editPittosporum hosmeri is small tree with height ranging from 10 to 25 feet.[5][6] Branches are typically smooth but new growth is often covered in woolly brown hairs. Leave are leathery and oblong ranging in length of 3 to 10 inches. There are large white colored flower clusters.
The fruits of the Pittosporum hosmeri are 1-3 inch fuzzy brown capsules. The contain about 40 seeds arranged in two rows.
Pittosporum hosmeri are part of the largest genus, Pittosporum Banks.[7]
Distribution and habitat
editPittosporum hosmeri is endemic to Hawaii.[8][9][10] It can be found in wet and mesic forests on the west and south sides of the island of Hawai'i at an elevation of 1200 to 3500 ft. It can also occasionally be found in dry leeward forests.
Human use
editThe plant has traditionally had use a wood for gunwales in canoes.[11] The outer layer of the capsules were also pounded and used on sores. It now has use in landscaping.
Cultural significance
editReferences
edit- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Govaerts, Rafaël; Nic Lughadha, Eimear; Black, Nicholas; Turner, Robert; Paton, Alan (2021-08-13). "The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity". Scientific Data. 8 (1): 215. Bibcode:2021NatSD...8..215G. doi:10.1038/s41597-021-00997-6. ISSN 2052-4463. PMC 8363670. PMID 34389730.
- ^ "Kona Cheesewood (Pittosporum hosmeri)". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Pittosporum hosmeri (Ho'awa)". www2.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Pittosporum hosmeri". Plant Pono. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Haas, Judith E. (1977). "The Pacific Species of Pittosporum Banks Ex Gaertn. (pittosporaceae)". Allertonia. 1 (2): 73–167. ISSN 0735-8032. JSTOR 23187393.
- ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Pittosporum hosmeri (Ho'awa)". www2.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "No common name (Pittosporum hosmeri)". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. February 11, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Pittosporum hosmeri". sustainablebioresources.com. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
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