Plant Profile
Polyscias oahuensis
ʻOhe mauka
Main Plant Information
Genus
Polyscias
Species
oahuensis
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- ʻOhe mauka
Hawaiian Names
- Ohe mauka
Synonyms
- Gastonia oahuensis
- Heptapleurum(?) waimeae
- Tetraplasandra kaalae
- Tetraplasandra kahanana
- Tetraplasandra kohalae
- Tetraplasandra lanaiensis
- Tetraplasandra lihuensis
- Tetraplasandra lydgatei
- Tetraplasandra meiandra
- Tetraplasandra munroi
- Tetraplasandra oahuensis
- Tetraplasandra pupukeensis
- Tetraplasandra waianensis
- Triplasandra kaalae
- Triplasandra lydgatei
- Triplasandra meiandra
- Triplasandra oahuensis
Plant Characteristics
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Tree, Dwarf, Less than 15
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
- Tree, Medium, 30 to 50
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Specimen Plant
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Characteristics
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Green
- Pink
- Yellow
Additional Flower Color Information
The small flowers are pinkish or yellowish-green.
Blooming Period
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
- January
- February
- May
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
The above blooming periods are based on numerous photographs of this species in flower in their natural habitats throughout their range.
Fruit is blackish purple at maturity and globose (round) or ovoid (egg-shaped) and often strongly ribbed when dry.
Leaf Characteristics
Plant texture
- Coarse
Leaf Colors
- Medium Green
Pests and Diseases
Growth Requirements
Fertilizer
When young, saplings responds well to balanced, slow-release fertilizers with micro-nutirents.Foliar feeding with kelp or fish emulsion monthly at half strength seems to help these slow growing ʻohe. [David Eickhoof, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Water Requirements
- Moist
- Wet
Additional Water Information
Their natural habitat is mesic to wet and likely moist to wet conditions would suit this species.
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Additional Lighting Information
The natural habitat suggests full to partial sun.
Soils
- Organic
Limitations
ʻOhe mauka, as previously mentioned, seem to be slower than other Polyscias spp. and patience is needed.
Environmental Information
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Hawaiʻi
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
- 150 to 1000, Greater than 100 (Wet)
- 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
ʻOhe mauka ( P. oahuensis ) is by far the most widely spread and variable of the Hawaiian Polyscias spp. This species is found from 785 to nearly 5000 feet in mesic to wet forest.
Special Features and Information
General Information
This endemic shares the Aralia or Ginseng Family (Araliaceae) with other fascinating natives as ʻōlapa ( Cheirodendron spp.), the unique pōkalakala ( Polyscias racemosa ), and ʻohe makai ( Polyscias sandwicensis ), the latter being one of the few deciduous native Hawaiian trees.
There are a total of 16 native species in Araliaceae in the Hawaiian Islands.
The non-native and invasive octopus tree or heʻe ( Schefflera actinophylla ) is also in this same family.
Etymology
The former generic name Tetraplasandra is derived from the Greek tetraplasios , 4-fold, and andra , stamens, referring to the plant having four times the stamens as petals in some individuals.
The new generic name Polyscias is from the Greek word “many-shades” in reference to the foliage. [1]
The specific epithet oahuensis referes to the island of Oʻahu.
Hawaiian Name:
The name ʻOhe mauka literally means “mountain” or “upland” ʻohe. [2]
Modern Use
Very few specimens of ʻohe mauka are currently seen in urban landscapes or gardens. These lower elevation mesic plants, however, do well in the landscape.
Additional References
[1] “Recircumscription of Polyscias (Araliaceae) to include six related genera, with a new infrageneric classification and a synopsis of species” by Porter P. Lowry II and Gregory M. Plunkett, page 61.
[2] Hawaiian Dictionaries online http://wehewehe.org [Accessed 6/18/10]