Pritchardia forbesiana
Genus
Pritchardia
Species
forbesiana
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Hāwane
- Loulu
- Noulu
- Wāhane
Hawaiian Names
- Hawane
- Loulu
- Noulu
- Wahane
Common Names
- Forbes' Loulu
- Forbes's Loulu
- Mt. ʻEke loulu
- Mt. ʻEke pritchardia
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
At Risk
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Specimen Plant
Additional Landscape Use Information
A medium-sized loulu. [2]
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Yellow
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
The fruting stalks, always with hairs, are as long as the leaves. Fruits are large and at least 1 1/4 inches wide. [2]
Plant texture
- Coarse
Additional Plant Texture Information
This loulu has wavy, fan shaped leaves with many hairs at the base of leaf stalk. [2]
Leaf Colors
- Medium Green
Additional Leaf Color Information
The leaves are green above and below.
Water Requirements
- Moist
Additional Water Information
Medium to high amounts of water. [Ethan Romanchak, Native Nursery, LLC]
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
Natural Range
- Molokaʻi
- Maui
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 1000 to 1999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 1000 to 1999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 2000 to 2999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 2000 to 2999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 3000 to 3999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 3000 to 3999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 4000 to 4999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 4000 to 4999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
This rare loulu is naturally from West Maui (west Honokōhau drainage; north and east slopes of Mount ʻEke) and Hālawa Valley, eastern Molokaʻi in wet to mesic locations from 1000 to 4000 feet. [4]
The range extension to far eastern Molokaʻi is based a revision of the genus Pritchardia. [2,3,4]
Special Features and Information
General Information
There are 27 species of Pritchardia in the Palm family (Aracaceae) of which 24 are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. [3,4]
Etymology
The generic name is named for William Thomas Pritchard (1829-1907), 19th century British counsul in Fiji, adventurer, and author of Polynesian Reminiscences in 1866.
The specific epithet forbesiana is named for the botanist Charles N. Forbes. [4]
Hawaiian Names:
Loulu, pronounced low-loo, means "umbrella," because the leaves were formerly used as protection from rain or sun.
The names Hāwane and Wāhane refers the fruit or nut of the loulu, but can also refer to the palm itself. The name is also used for a small red limu or seaweed (Polysiphonia spp.). [1]
Loulu is the Hawaiian name for all species of Pritchardia in the Hawaiian Archipelago. The name has at times been misspelled as Loʻulu. However, Loʻulu, with ʻokina, is the name of the endemic Hawaiian fern Coniogramme pilosa. Loulu is also used for a species of filefish (Alutera monoceros), perhaps so called because its greenish-white skin resembled the loulu palm. It was used in sorcery to cause death because the name contains the word lou, to hook. [1]
Noulu is a variation of Loulu. [1]
Background Information
Pritchardia forbesiana is related to P. gordonii, P. lowreyana, P. munroi, and P. schattaueri. [3]
Fossil evidence show that loulu were once widely spread throughout the islands, especially in the lowlands.
Early Hawaiian Use
Loulu (Pritchardia spp.): The hard wood of the trunk of taller species of loulu were fashioned into spears by early Hawaiians.
The fruits called hāwane or wāhane were peeled and eaten by early Hawaiians. They collected young fruits. The flavor of young fruit with the soft interior is similar to coconut. The trunks loulu were notched for climbing to gather the immature fruits and fronds. Older specimens still bear notches that can be seen today. [2]
The fronds, or leaves, called lau hāwane were used by the early Hawaiians for thatching and more recently as plaiting such as papale (hats) and fans.
Additional References
[1] Hawaiian Dictionaries http://www.wehewehe.org/ [12/30/09]
[2] "Loulu--The Hawaiian Pritchardia" by Donald R. Hodel, The Palm Journal #193, pages 10, 12.
[3] "A Review of the Genus Pritchardia" by Donald R. Hodel, page S-3, S-8, S-13.
[4] "Loulu: The Hawaiian Palm" by Donald R. Hodel, pages 1, 78, 79, 80.
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