Planchonella sandwicensis is a species of flowering tree in the sapodilla family, Sapotaceae, that is endemic to the main islands of Hawaii. Names for this species in the Hawaiian language include ʻĀlaʻa, Āulu and ʻĒlaʻa.[2]
| Planchonella sandwicensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Green fruit and leaves | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Sapotaceae |
| Genus: | Planchonella |
| Species: | P. sandwicensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Planchonella sandwicensis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editʻĀlaʻa inhabits dry, coastal mesic, and mixed mesic forests at elevations of 240–980 m (790–3,220 ft).[3] ʻĀlaʻa reaches a height of 15 m (49 ft) and a trunk diameter of 0.4 m (1.3 ft). The thick bark is grey and fissured, with an orange inner layer. The leaves are alternate, thick, leathery, oblong or elliptical, and measure 6–14 cm (2.4–5.5 in) long and 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) wide. The upper surfaces of the leaves are glabrous and shiny green, while the lower surfaces are dull and may feature bronze or reddish brown pressed hairs. The hairs are sometimes found only on the tips of new leaves (see photo gallery below). Inflorescences with one to four bell-shaped flowers are found at the bases of leaves. The fruit, a berry, is 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) in diameter and yellow, orange, or purplish black. Each fruit contains one to five seeds, which are about 2 cm (0.79 in) long and yellow brown.[4]
Uses
editThe wood of ʻālaʻa is yellow with black streaks, extremely hard, and close grained.[4] Native Hawaiians used it in house construction and to make the pale (gunwales) of waʻa (outrigger canoes),[3] ʻōʻō (digging sticks), and ihe (spears). The sticky, milky sap was used as a kolū (glue) for weapon and tool handles[2] and as kēpau (birdlime), much like papala kepau (Pisonia spp.).[5]
-
Planchonella sandwicensis trunk -
Pouteria sandwicensis (leaves)
References
edit- ^ a b Planchonella sandwicensis (A.Gray) Pierre. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998). "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest" (PDF). Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. pp. 17–18.
- ^ a b "'ala'a, aulu, elaa, kaulu". Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ a b Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989). "ʻĀlaʻa" (PDF). United States Forest Service.
- ^ Barboza, Rick (2009-04-03). "Beautiful native tree varies in appearance". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
External links
edit
Media related to Planchonella sandwicensis at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Planchonella sandwicensis at Wikispecies