Plant Profile
Nothocestrum latifolium
Hālena, ʻAiea
Main Plant Information
Genus
Nothocestrum
Species
latifolium
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Hālena
- ʻAiea
Hawaiian Names
- Aiea
- Halena
Common Names
- Broadleaf aiea
Synonyms
- Nothocestrum subcordatum
Did You Know…?
The city of ʻAiea, west of Honolulu, was named after the ʻaiea tree ( Nothocestrum latifolia ) which grew in this area at one time.
Plant Characteristics
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
At Risk
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
- Tree, Medium, 30 to 50
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
Source of Fragrance
- Flowers
Additional Fragrance Information
The flowers of ʻaiea have a wonderful lemmony scent. When several blooms are opened at the same time, the perfumed pua fill the air!
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Characteristics
Flower Colors
- Green
- Yellow
Additional Flower Color Information
Ths small fragrant flowers are yellowish green with wavy edges on the petals.
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
The yellowish orange fruit are pea-size.
Leaf Characteristics
Plant texture
- Medium
Leaf Colors
- Medium Green
Pests and Diseases
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Red spider mites.
Growth Requirements
Fertilizer
Apply 13-13-13 slow release fertilize 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.
Water Requirements
- Dry
Additional Water Information
Young saplings will need waterings to keep them thriving. But once established reduce watering. Mature trees will not require additional watering.
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
Tolerances
- Drought
- Wind
Soils
- Cinder
- Organic
Environmental Information
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 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)
- 4000 to 4999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 4000 to 4999, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
Found in dry to mesic forests and diverse mesic forests from 1500 to over 5000 feet.
Nothocestrum latifolium is endemic to Oʻahu (Waiʻanae Mountains, and a single historical record from the southeastern Koʻolau Mountains), Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Maui (West Maui and East Maui).
It is rare and is declining in numbers. [Joel Lau, Botanist]
Special Features and Information
General Information
ʻAiea ( Nothocestrum spp.) is an endemic genus belonging to Solanaceae or the Nightshade family.
There are four species of Nothocestrum: the very rare and endangered N. breviflorum (Hawaiʻi Island) and N. peltatum (Kauaʻi); N. longifolium, which is apparently secure in numbers; and the rare N. latifolium . The last two found being on most of the main Hawaiian Islands.
Other native members of the Nighshade family include and the indigenous ʻōhelo kai ( Lycium sandwicense ), and four species of Solanum: the questionably indigenous species, glossy nightshade ( S. americanum ), and three endemics, pōpolo kū mai ( S. incompletum ), pōpolo ( S. nelsonii ), and pōpolo ʻaiakeakua ( S. sandwicense ).
Some other edible family favorites are tomato, potato, eggplant, cape gooseberry or pohā, tomatillo, and green and chili peppers.
However, as the family name implies, this group also has some of the deadliest of all plants with sinister names as Apple of Sodom, Angel’s trumpet, Porcupine tomato, Thorn apple, Devil’s fig, Devil’s apple, and Five-Minute plant. Other kin containing toxic chemicals are mandrake ( Mandragora officinarum ), Jimsonweed ( Datura stramonium ), and tobacco ( Nicotiana spp.). But the “Queen of Toxins,” and one of our planets deadliest, is Belladonna ( Atropa belladonna ), which possess tropane alkaloids. It also goes by the names Devil’s berries, Death Cherries, or Deadly nightshade. Then, there are some merely grown for their beautiful flowers like the garden favorites petunias, and the spectacular Golden challice vine ( Solandra maxima ).
Etymology
The generic name Nothocestrum is from the Greek nothos, false, and Cestrum, a large American genus with many species.
The specific epithet latifolium , is derived from latus , broad, in reference to the broad or wide leaves of this species.
Hawaiian Names:
ʻAiea . A town, land sections, streets, a mill, a village, a bay, a stream, a field, a recreation center, and schools in south-central Oʻahu have all been named ʻaiea ( Nothocestrum latifolia ), which once grew in this area. [3]
Hālena is another name for species of the genus Nothocestrum .
Early Hawaiian Use
Canoe:
Botanist Joseph Rock (1913) wrote, “The wood of this, as well as of the other species, is soft and of a green color; it was used by the natives in the olden days for finishing off canoes." [2]
The wood was used for gunwales (moʻo) and the sharp point of the stern (moamoa). [1,4]
Food:
Fruits were sometimes eaten. [2]
House Construction:
The wood was also used in thatching sticks (ʻaho) in house construction. [1,4]
Medicinal:
The leaves, bark, and tap root were pounded, mixed with water, strained, heated with hot rocks, and cooled to use in the treatment of pūhā kolekole a ‘a‘ai (abcesses). It was also made into a liquid medicine with ‘ōhi‘a bark ( Metrosideros spp.), moa holo kula ( Psilotum nudum ), and kō honua‘ula (red/purple sugarcane) for pūhā kolekole. [2,4]
Modern Use
Until fairly recently, apparently ʻAiea High School on Oʻahu had a nice ʻaiea tree on their grounds. A long time grounds keeper said the tree died several years ago (c.1970’s) from an unknown cause. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
At least two species of ʻaiea ( Nothocestrum breviflorum, N. latifolium ) do well in leeward urban areas when given full sun and kept on the drier side. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Additional References
[1] “Plants in Hawaiian Culture” by Beatrice H. Krauss, pages 50, 323.
[2] “Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest” by A.C. Medeiros, C.F. Davenport & C.G. Chimera, pages 14, 19.
[3] http://www.wehewehe.org [Accessed 3/15/10]
[4] “Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database” http://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb [Accessed 1/24/12]
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