Pritchardia bakeri

Main Plant Information

Genus

Pritchardia

Species

bakeri

Common Names

• Baker’s Loulu

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

No data available.

Additional Landscape Use Information

This beautiful new species is not known to be in residential or commercial landscapes.

Plant Produces Flowers

Yes

Flower Characteristics

Flower Type

Showy

Flower Colors

• Yellow

Leaf Characteristics

Plant texture

• Coarse

Additional Plant Texture Information

Leaves are 2-3 feet long and wide, slight wavy blades, on 1-2 long leaf stalks.

Leaf Colors

• Gray / Silverish
• Medium Green

Additional Leaf Color Information

The blades are glossy green above and conspicuously silver grayish below.

Pests and Diseases

Growth Requirements

Water Requirements

• Wet

Additional Water Information

“Water Requirements” are based on habitat.

Light Conditions

No data available.

Environmental Information

Natural Range

• Oʻahu

Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)

• 1000 to 1999, Greater than 100 (Wet)
• 2000 to 2999, Greater than 100 (Wet)

Habitat

• Terrestrial

Additional Habitat Information

This loulu occurs in wet, low, disturbed, windswept, mostly exposed shrubby and/or grassy areas, sometimes on steep slopes from about 1500 to 2100 feet at the extreme northern and southern ends of the Koʻolau Mountains, Oʻahu. It is strangely absent from intervening areas along the Koʻolau’s. [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. [1,4]

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 bakeri is named for Ray Baker (1945-2010) of Lyon Arboretum. [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.). [2]

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. [2]

Noulu is a variation of Loulu . [2]

Background Information

Fossil evidence show that loulu ( Pritchardia spp.) were once widely spread throughout the islands, especially in the lowlands.

Pritchardia bakeri was at one time obscured by P. martii and until recently described as a distinct and new species. Only an estimated 250 plants occur in the Kahuku and Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserves. It is easily a Species of Concern and should probably be in a higher, more protective category, such as Endangered. [4]

Similar species are Pritchardia martii (Oʻahu), P. hardyi (Kauaʻi), and P. kaalae (Waiʻanae Mts., Oʻahu). But, Pritchardia martii can be distinguished by the flower and fruit stalks which do not exceed the leaves. And though P. hardyi and P. kaalae have fruiting stalks that exceed the leaves, their fruits are much smaller, less than 1 inch in diameter. [4]

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. [3]

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] “A Review of the Genus Pritchardia " by Donald R. Hodel, page S-3, S-8 S-11.

[2] Hawaiian Dictionaries http://www.wehewehe.org/ [Accessed 12/30/09]

[3] “Loulu–The Hawaiian Pritchardia” by Donald R. Hodel, The Palm Journal #193, page 12.

[4] “Loulu: The Hawaiian Palm” by Donald R. Hodel, pages 1, 70, 71, 73.