Senna gaudichaudii
Genus
Senna
Species
gaudichaudii
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Heuhiuhi
- Kalamona
- Kolomona
- Uhiuhi
Hawaiian Names
- Heuhiuhi
- Kalamona
- Kolomona
- Uhiuhi
Common Names
- Gaudichaud's senna
Synonyms
- Cassia gaudichaudii
- Cassia glanduligera
- Psilorhegma gaudichaudii
- Senna glanduligera
Distribution Status
Indigenous
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Partially Woody / Shrub-like
- Shrub
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
- Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10
- Shrub, Tall, Greater than 10
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Hedges
- Screening
Additional Landscape Use Information
Kolomona is a nice accent plant to add a diffrent texture to the landscape.
Source of Fragrance
- No Fragrance
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Showy
Flower Colors
- Greenish-White
- Yellow
Additional Flower Color Information
Kolomona floral displays are somewhat showy but the greenish-white to chartreuse or pale yellow flowers tend to blend in with its own foliage and so do not pop out with a burst of color as do some other Senna species.
The flowers are sometimes tinged red.
Blooming Period
- Year Round
- Sporadic
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
Seed pods soon appear after flowering, at first as a thin green C-shaped pod, then flat and wide, eventually turning brown and dry when ripe.
Plant texture
- Medium
Additional Plant Texture Information
Leaf surfaces are evenly pubescent.
Leaf Colors
- Dark Green
- Medium Green
Additional Leaf Color Information
Leaves are medium to dark green above and light green underneath.
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Spider mites, scale, mealy bugs and aphids can be problems as well as infestations of black twig borer.
Fertilizer
13-13-13 slow release fertilizer every six months. Foliar feeding 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 every other month has proved beneficial. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Water Requirements
- Dry
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Additional Lighting Information
Both wild and cultivated plants do well in both full sun and partial shade but appear best to perform in full sun conditions. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Tolerances
- Drought
Soils
- Cinder
- Organic
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Kahoʻolawe
- Hawaiʻi
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- Less than 150, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- Less than 150, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 3000 to 3999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
From near sea level to over 3000 feet in dry to occasional lower mesic forests within its range. Strangely kolomona has not been reported from the island of Niʻihau but is represented on all the other Main Islands.
Senna gaudichaudii is indigenous throughout the Pacific region: the New Hebrides, Ausral Islands, Rapa, Henderson Island, Fiji, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia (Cape York Pennisula south to southeastern Queensland, ) [3], and perhaps New Caledonia and Tahiti.
Special Features and Information
General Information
Kolomona (Senna gaudichaudii) belong to the Pea family or Fabaceae. The genus Senna is comprised of around 250 species. A few have practical purposes such as Chinese senna (S. obtusifolia) used as a thickening agent mainly in pet food. The leaves and flowers of Siamese senna or khi-lek (S. siamea) are eaten fresh or pickled in brine particularly in gaeng khi-lek, a curry. There are also a number of medicinal uses. Perhaps the best known species is Senna italica, often called "neutral henna," used in hair treatment. [1]
There about eight naturalized species in the Hawaiian islands, some with very showy yellow floral displays. Kolomona does have such dramatic flowers but is spectacular in its own right with dainty clusters of greenish-white to chartreuse or pale yellow flowers.
Etymology
The generic name Senna is the Latinization of the Arabic sanā'.
The specific epithet gaudichaudii is named after the French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré (1789-1854) who made several contributions to the knowledge of Hawaiian flora during his voyages to the islands.
Hawaiian Names:
The name Uhiuhi is also shared by Caesalpinia kavaiensis.
Background Information
Kolomona has medium nitrogen-fixing properties. [2]
Early Hawaiian Use
Kolomona was probably not a plant of major use. [Sam ʻOhukaniʻōhiʻa Gon III, personal communication]
Modern Use
The flowers can be strung into lei and they also produce a light green dye. [4]
Additional References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senna_%28genus%29 [Accessed 1/6/10].
[2] USDA NRCS Conservation Plants Characteristics http://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=SEGA2 [Accessed 1/6/10]
[3] "Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants" http://keys.trin.org.au [Accessed 1/24/12]
[4] "Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database" http://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb [Accessed 1/24/12]
PHOTOS FOR THIS SPECIES CAN BE SEEN AT THE LINK (Copy & Paste to your browser):
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50823119%40N08&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=Senna%20gaudichaudii
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