Sapindus oahuensis

Sapindus oahuensis is a species of tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is limited to Kauaʻi (Waimea Canyon) and Oʻahu (Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges).[4] Its common names include Āulu,[5] Oahu soapberry, alulu, kaulu, and lonomea.[2]

Fruits

Sapindus oahuensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Sapindus
Species:
S. oahuensis
Binomial name
Sapindus oahuensis
Synonyms

Sapindus lonomea H.St.John[3]

It can be found in dry and moist forest habitat at elevations of 200 to 2000 feet.[4]

Āulu grows up to 18 m (59 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of 0.5 m (1.6 ft). It has alternately arranged, hairless leaves which have simple blades, unlike its congener, the wingless soapberry (S. saponaria), which has compound leaves. The leaves are somewhat thick and green with a yellow midvein. They are up to 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a panicle of many greenish yellow, bell-shaped male and female flowers. The fruit is a shiny, leathery berry roughly 2 centimeters long, containing one large black seed.[5]

The seeds were strung and used in leis.[5]

References
  1. World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1998. Sapindus oahuensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. Downloaded on 10 August 2013.
  2. "Sapindus oahuensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  3. "Sapindus oahuensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  4. "Sapindus oahuensis Hillebrand (Sapindaceae)". National Tropical Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  5. Little, E. L. and R. G. Skolmen. Āulu, Sapindus oahuensis Hillebr. Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced). Agriculture Handbook no. 679. USDA Forest Service, 1989.


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