Planchonella sandwicensis
Genus
Planchonella
Species
sandwicensis
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Kaulu
- Āulu
- ʻĀlaʻa
- ʻĒlaʻa
Hawaiian Names
- Alaa
- Aulu
- Elaa
- Kaulu
Synonyms
- Myrsine molokaiensis
- Planchonella auahiensis
- Planchonella aurantium
- Planchonella ceresolii
- Planchonella puulupensis
- Planchonella rhynchosperma
- Planchonella spathulata
- Pouteria auahiensis
- Pouteria aurantia
- Pouteria ceresolii
- Pouteria rhynchosperma
- Pouteria sandwicensis
- Pouteria spathulata
- Sapota sandwicensis
- Sideroxylon auahiensis
- Sideroxylon ceresolii
- Sideroxylon rhynchosperma
- Sideroxylon sandwicense
- Sideroxylon spathulatum
- Suttonia molokaiensis
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Partially Woody / Shrub-like
- Sprawling Shrub
- Shrub
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Tall, Greater than 10
- Tree, Dwarf, Less than 15
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
- Tree, Medium, 30 to 50
- Tree, Large, Greater than 50
Mature Size, Width
Depending of the source and growing conditions of this variable plant, the canopy can be from 20 to 40 feet.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Provides Shade
- Screening
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Greenish-White
Blooming Period
- Summer
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
The fruit is edible when it ripens and drops to the leaf litter and sits for a couple of days. The flavor is like baked yams. [2]
Plant texture
- Coarse
Leaf Colors
- Dark Green
- Medium Green
- Red
Additional Leaf Color Information
Leaf color is variable from medium green to yellowish-brown to rust.
Fertilizer
Apply 13-13-13 slow release fertilize every six months for potted plants.
Drench and foliar feeding* potted plants and out planted saplings in early morning with a water-soluble or an organic fertilizer (e.g. kelp or fish emulsion) at one-third to one-fourth the recommended strength monthly or every other month has proved beneficial. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
* Drench feeding is applying a liquid fertilizer directly to the potted plant or soil where plant is growing. Foliar feeding is a method to spray leaves with low doses of fertilizer.
Water Requirements
- Dry
- Moist
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
Tolerances
- Drought
Soils
- Cinder
- Organic
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Hawaiʻi
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 2000 to 2999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 3000 to 3999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 3000 to 3999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
ʻĀlaʻa are naturally found in dry to mesic and diverse mesic forests from about 790 to over 3600 feet.
Special Features and Information
General Information
ʻĀlaʻa and its endemic relative keahi (Sideroxylon polynesicum) are the only two native Hawaiian members belonging to the Sapodilla family (Sapotaceae) comprising about 200 species.
The genus was recently changed to Planchonella. [8]
Some edible family members include Sapodilla or Sapota (Manilkara zapota); the natural, original chewing Gum chicle (Manilkara chicle); Star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito); Mamey sapote or Abricó (Pouteria sapota); Canistel (P. campechiana); and the incredible Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), which when eaten alters the tongues taste receptors turning bitter or sour foods, such as lemons and limes, sweet!
Etymology
The generic name Planchonella is name for Jules Émile Planchon (1823-1888), a French botanist born in Ganges, Hérault, France.
The specific epithet sandwicensis refers to the "Sandwich Islands," as the Hawaiian Islands were once called, and named by James Cook on one of his voyages in the 1770s. James Cook named the islands after John Montagu (The fourth Earl of Sandwich) for supporting Cook's voyages.
Hawaiian Names:
Āulu and kaulu are also alternate names for pāpala kēpau (Pisonia sandwicensis).
ʻĒlaʻa is a variant spelling or a variety of ʻālaʻa. [9]
Early Hawaiian Use
ʻĀlaʻa wood was used to make gunwales for canoes, [1] house construction, ʻōʻō, and spears (ihe). [3,4] A digging stick (ʻōʻō) made of ʻālaʻa was called ʻālaʻa. The milky sap was used as a glue (kolū) for tool and weapon handles.
The sticky sap was used in pīlali, or birdlime, to snare small forest birds for feathers for cloaks, capes, helmets, lei, and kāhili. The flowers of ʻōhā wai (Clermontia spp.) were used to lure the victims in kia manu (bird-catching by gumming).
The seeds were used to make permanent leis. [1]
The leaves and bark were used medicinally. [6] The leaves were for curing the illness referred to as pehu poʻipū. [7]
Additional References
[1] "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" by Beatrice H. Krauss, pages 50, 140, 323.
[2] Sam ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa Gon III, presentation "Scientific and Cultural Perspectives--Dry Forest Plants & Ecosystems," Nāhelehele Dryland Forest Symposium, Feb. 26, 2010.
[3] "Trees and Other Plants Used by Early Hawaiians" by C.S. Judd, page
[4] "Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced)" by Elbert L. Little, Jr. and Roger G. Skolmen, pages 270, 274.
[5] [1] "Systematic Botany Monographs, Volume 32, Systematics of Clermontia (Campanulaceae-Lobelioideae)" by Thomas Lammers, pages 5, 6, 10-11, 24-30.
[6] "Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online" http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/resultsdetailed.asp?search=alaa [accessed 11/4/10]
[7] "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest" by A.C. Medeiros, C.F. Davenport & C.G. Chimera, pages 21-22.
[8] "Molecular phylogeny of Planchonella (Sapotaceae) and eight new species from New Caledonia" by Swenson, Ulf; Munzinger, Jérôme; Bartish, Igor V., pages 329-331, 333, 354.
[9] Hawaiian Dictionaries online http://wehewehe.olelo.hawaii.edu [Accessed on 11/22/11]
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