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  • Christine Snyder

Jack-in-the-Box Fruit Tree - Hernandia nymphaeifolia

10/23/2016

Comments

 
Picture
  • Can grow up to 30 ft. tall.
  • Ornamental tree.
  • Evergreen with an open, odd crown. 
  • Found in Eastern Africa through tropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. 
  • Plant of lowland tropical climates.
  • Has some medicinal properties. 
     (Source: UTP, 2014)
​

                Image Source: Tau'olunga (commons.wikimedia)
Comments

Kamani - Calophyllum inophyllum 

10/22/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
Picture
  • Introduced to Hawaii by people of other Pacific islands during a migration that happened over a 1,000 years ago.
  • Fine grained wood.
  • Green fruit.
  • Nut from fruit produced an oil that was used for lighting and for rubbing down canoes.
  • Old saying that a Kamani was planted wherever a temple for royalty was built. 
  • Evergreen tree.
  • Known as Alexandrian Laurel.
     (Source: Majesty I, 1982)
  • Native to the shores of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. 
  • Reaches a height of 60 ft. in height.
  • White flowers are used in leis.
    (Source: Rauch, 2000)
                          Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
Comments

Kapok - Ceiba pentandra

10/21/2016

Comments

 
Picture
  • Smooth trunk.
  • Introduced by Dr. William Hillebrand in 1851.
  • "Floss" called "kapok" is used in life preservers and other water safety equipment because of its buoyant wood.
  • It can support 20 to 30 times its own weight in water.
  • Still an important export product in Asia where the seeds in the pods are processed to obtain oil for soaps.
    ​Source: (Majesty I, 1982)
Comments

Kassod - Senna Siamea

10/20/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Vinayaraj (commons.wikimedia)
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
  • Also known as Siamese Senna.
  • Grows up to 54 ft. tall.
  • Ornamental tree.
  • Very dense crown.
  • Wood Produces yellow powder that can cause irritation to the skin.
  • Native to SE Asia.
  • Young fruits and leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
  • Flowers are yellow.
     (Source: UTP, 2014)
Comments

Kauila - Alphitonia ponderosa

10/19/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
  • Native to Hawaii.
  • Listed "Vulnerable" on the IUCN list.
  • Reaches 49-79 ft. tall.
  • Leaves are shiny, green, and hairless.
  • Red fruit.
  • Inhabits dry, coastal forests.
  • Has reddish brown wood.
  • Was a replacement for metal by Native Hawaiian who used fishing lures and daggers.
     (Source: EOL, 2016)
Comments

Kauri (Queensland) – Agathis robusta

10/18/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Sue Waters (Wiki Commons)
  • Up to 150 ft.
  • From Queensland, Australia.
  • Rainforests.
  • Wood used for furniture due to close-grained feature.
  • Introduced to Hawaii in the 1850’s as a potential wood to be used in shipbuilding/repairs, but ships switched to using metal before a crop of Kauri were ready.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • Valued for its fine white straight-grained wood and is an important source of copal.
  • Copal is a key ingredient in varnishes and printing ink.
    Source: (Majesty I, 1982)

Comments

Kiawe - Prosopis pallida 

10/17/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Forest and Kim Starr (Wiki Commons)
  • Planted in 1828.
  • Originally planted by Father Bachelot from the Royal Gardens in Paris.
  • Originating in Peru, Columbia, and Ecuador.
  • Tough wood.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • Can grow up to 50 ft. high.
  • Thrives in hot, dry locations in deep soils.
  • There is also a thornless for of this tree.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Also known as algaroba or mesquite in other places,
  • Shade tree and source of nectar for honeybees.
    Source: (Wageman, 2008)
Comments

Koa - Acacia koa

10/16/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons. wikimedia)
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
  • Grows up to 50 ft. tall.
  • Wide spreading canopy.
  • Not recommended on Oahu due to an unknown pathogen fatal to young trees.
     (Source: Rauch, 2000)
  • Koa grows on all the main islands, except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olave.
  • Trees in high moist elevations can reach up to 100 ft. in height.
  • Red wood with a wavy grain.
  • Sometimes called Hawaiian mahogany.
  • Prized for furniture and surfboards.
  • "Koa" means brave, bold, fearless.
  • It's a name given to boys.
     (Source: Majesty II,1991)
Comments

Kopiko ‘ula Tree – Psychotria hawaiiensis

10/15/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: David Eickhoff
  • Can reach up to 60 ft.
  • Endemic to Hawaii and found in rainforests an Big Island, Molokai, and Maui.
  • Formerly used for firewood.
  • The hard, whitish wood was used for making kapa – beating anvils.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
Comments

Kou Tree – Cordia subcordata

10/14/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Gil Hampshire (Wiki Commons)
Picture
  • Came from East Africa.
  • Brought over to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers.
  • Values for its superbly grained wood.
  • The wood is useful as dishes as here is no flavor added to contents inside these wooden dishes.
  • Heat and salt tolerant.
  • The orange flowers are used to make leis.
  • Is important in Tuamotus and Tonga cultures.
  • Wood is very difficult to obtain.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • Height can reach up to 50 ft. tall.
  • Open, wide spreading canopy.
  • Thrives in poor soils.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Odorless flowers.
  • Leaves were a source of a light dye used for kappa.
    Source: (Wageman, 2008)
Comments

Kukui Tree – Aleurites moluccana

10/13/2016

Comments

 
Picture
  • Brought to Hawaii in the time of the Polynesian migration more than a thousand years ago.
  • Up to 50 ft.
  • Among the largest grove in the state.
  • Used to make black dye, light wood to make canoes (Important in Hawaii economy).
  • The white seed contains oil that helped to make candles and to fuel stone lamps.
  • The Kukui nuts are used to make leis.
  • Official tree of Hawaii.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • Used as a specimen or massed in a grove.
  • Works best in full sun in soil with good drainage.
  • Leaves, flowers, and seeds are used in leis.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Designated Hawaii’s state tree in 1959.
  • Symbol for enlightenment.
    ​Source: (Wageman, 2008)
  • Grown as a boundary or wind breaker.
  • Oil extracted from the seeds was traditionally used by Hawaiians as a preservative for surfboards.
  • Many types of birds find shelter in its canopy. 
    Source: (Elevitch, 2006)

Comments

Litchi (Lychee) - Litchi chinensis 

10/12/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: B. Navez (Wiki Commons)
Picture
Image Source: B. Navez (Wiki Commons)
  • Came to Hawaii in 1852.
  • Dense-foliaged tree that may produce more than 200 pounds of its fruit.
  • Native to Southern China and the Philippines.
    Source: (Majesty I,1982)
  • Up to 40 ft. high.
  • Edible reddish, marron fruit.
  • Good shade tree.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Grown in subtropical and tropical regions.
  • It has been cultivated for over 2,000 years in China and Vietnam.
    ​Source: (Wakeman, 2008)
Comments

Loulu Palm – Pritchardia lowreyana

10/11/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: David Eickhoff (Wiki Commons)
  • Height can reach up to 90 ft.
  • Endemic to Hawaii and the tallest.
  • Cool, moist habitat.
  • George Schattauer saved the trees from bulldozing.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991) 
Comments

Loulu Lelo Palm – Pritchardia hillebrandii

10/10/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: David Eickhoff (Wiki Commons)
  • Height can reach up to 20 ft.
  • Endemic plant in Hawaii.
  • Blue/green leaves makes it a commonly used palm for landscaping.
  • Immature fruit has a coconut-like flower.
  • Named in honor of Dr. Williams Hillebrand.
  • Hawaiians formerly used the large, fun-shaped leaves for thatch.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • Native to Hawaii.
  • Best in full sun.
  • Bluish silver color of foliage.
  • Prefers well – drained moderately moist soil.
  • Leaves, flowers, and fruit are used in arrangements.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Early Hawaiians constructed temporary temples from the fronds of loulo palm.
  • Prayers and offerings to Lono, god of agriculture and fertility.
    ​​Source: (Wageman, 2008)
Comments

Macadamia Nut - Macadamia integrifolia 

10/9/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Forest and Kim Starr (Wiki Commons)
Picture
  • Growth and processing of macadamia nuts is a major industry for the state.
  • E.W. Jordan planted the first macadamia nut tree on Oahu around 1890.
  • Tree had been previously introduced to Big Island in 1885 by E.W. Purvis.
  • Native to Australia.
    Source: (Majesty I, 1982)
  • Important commercial crop.
  • Important source of timber.
    ​Source: (Wakeman, 2008)
  • Height reaching up to 30 to 40 ft. high and almost as wide.
  • Another common name is the Australian nut.
    ​Source: (NTBG, 2016)
Comments

Mahogany - Swietenia macrophylla 

10/8/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Daderot (Wiki Commons)
  • Seeds of Mahogany trees had been sent to Hawaii from the West Indies by Gerrit P. Wilder in 1909.
  • Made for elegant furniture in the 18th century.
    Source: (Majesty I, 1982)
  • One of tropical America's most valuable timber trees.
  • Native to the rainforests of the Caribbean coast of Central America, South America, and into the upper regions of the Amazon.
  • It can grow up to 150 ft. tall.
  • Thrives in higher rainfall areas.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • Overharvested for timber resulting in genetic mixing with indigenous trees.​
​    ​Source: (Wageman, 2008)​ 
Comments

Mammee Apple - Mammea americana

10/7/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Iskander HFC (commons.wikimedia)
Picture
Image Source: (commons.wikimedia)
  • Alexander Adams, who was a Scottish sea captain, introduced this tree to Hawaii.
  • Native to the West Indies.
  • Bitter rind of the fruit gives the tree its name.
  • Sweet tasting orange fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked or preserved.
  • Dark green foliage.
     (Source: Majesty I, 1982)
  • Large, heavy-branched evergreen tree with a dense, columnar crown.
  • Can grow up to 65 ft. in height.
  • Super shiny leaves.
  • Ornamental tree for shade.
  • Tropical or moist to wet climates.
  • Medicinal properties in folk medicine.
     (Source: UTP, 2014)
Comments

Mango - Mangifera indica

10/6/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Forest and Kim Starr (Wiki Commons)
  • Can reach up to 50-100 ft. in height.
  • Mango is an important part in culture and diet of many different cultures.
  • Common garden tree throughout tropics.
  • High in vitamin A.
  • Trees blooms in mid to late winter.
  • Most popular tropical fruit.
  • Native in tropical Asia.
  • Introduced to Hawaii in 1825.
    Source: (Elevitch, 2006)
  • Brought aboard the HMS Blonde in 1825.
  • Cultigen tree, meaning it has no known counterpart in the wild.
    Source: (Wageman, 2008)
Comments

Mangosteen - Garcinia mangostana

10/5/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Michael Hermann (commons.wikimedia)
  • Small, slow growing, evergreen tree whose crown is pyramidal.
  • Can grow up to 80 ft. tall.
  • Edible fruit and very tasty.
  • Native to East Asia - Malaysia.
  • Widely cultivated in Indonesia and Malaysia.
  • Very rare to see them growing in the wild.
  • Has many medicinal properties using parts from almost all of the tree.
     (Source: UTP, 2014)
Comments

Mexican Fan Palm - Washingtonia robusta

10/4/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
  • Large and fast growing. 
  • Native to Mexico.
  • Can reach up to 100 ft. tall.
  • Street or avenue tree.
  • Moderate tolerance to salt.
  • Best grown in full sun.
     (Source: Rauch, 2000)
Comments

Mindanao Gum - Eucalyptus deglupta 

10/3/2016

Comments

 
Picture
  • Fast growing evergreen tree.
  • Can grow up to 195 ft. tall with some specimens growing to 250 ft. tall.
  • The bowl can sometimes take up to 50-70% of the tree height.
  • Widely known for its wood which is traded all over the world. 
  • Species grown in humid rain forests. 
  • Due to attractive bark and quick growth, it is commonly used as an ornamental tree.
  • Native to Southeast Asia, Philippines, and New Guinea.
  • Large doses of its oil of eucalyptus has caused fatalities from intestinal irrigation. 
     (Source: UTP, 2014)
  • Moderate wind and salt tolerance.
  • Large puffs of white flowers appear in spring.
     (Source: Rauch, 2000)
  • Harold L. Lyon planted first seeds from New Guinea in 1939.
  • A french botanist gave it its name "Eucalyptus" which means "well covered".
     (Source: Majesty II, 1991)
Comments

Monkeypod Tree – Albizia Saman

10/2/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Image Source: Brian Bagnall
  • Can reach up to 80 ft. tall with a large spreading canopy.
  • Native from Mexico to Peru and Brazil.
  • Introduced to Hawaii in the 1850’s.
  • One of the most common and popular tree in Hawaii.
  • Found on all major islands.
  • Great for parks as a shade tree.
  • Widely known for its huge, spreading canopy.
    Source: (Majesty II, 1991)
  • One of the most popular shade trees in the tropics.
  • Rapid growing deciduous tree forms an umbrella like crown.
  • From tropical America.
  • Flowers form late spring to summer.
  • Sun lover, thrives in all moist, well-drained soils due to its nitrogen fixing ability.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Rapid grower.
  • Leaves open out by day to screen off sun’s rays.
  • Leaves close at dusk shedding dew.
  • Pink leaves at top in spring.
    ​Source: (Majesty I, 2006)
Comments

Moreton Bay Fig - Ficus macrophylla

10/1/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Forest and Kim Starr (Wiki Commons)
  • Between 1851 and 1857, seeds arrived in Honolulu form the Sydney Botanic Garden.
  • Fruit is tasteless, but very attractive.
  • Native to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia.
    Source: (Majesty I, 1982)
  • Up to 60 ft. in height.
  • Fast growing.
  • Large, leathery leaves and dense canopy.
  • Effective for noise control.
    Source: (Rauch, 2000)
  • Huge roots.
  • Reforestation purposes.
    ​Source: (Wageman, 2008)
Comments

Mountain Apple - Syzygium malaccense

9/30/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Starr (commons.wikimedia)
Picture
Image Source: MurielBendel (commons.wikimedia)
  • Also known as Malay Apple.
  • Evergreen tree.
  • Crown spreads in a cone shape.
  • Can grow 16-65 ft. tall.
  • Edible fruit.
  • Harvested from wild and locally eaten.
  • Rose purple flowers.
  • Found in Southeast Asia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, New Guinea, Bismark Islands, and Northern Australia.
  • Has medicinal properties.
     (Source: UTP, 2014)
  • Native in the Indo-Malayan region or Southeast Asia.
  • Cultivated over a long time in tropics. 
  • Fruit is glossy red.
  • Fairly resistant to pests. 
     (Source: Elevitch, 2006)
Comments

Mysore Fig - Ficus drupacea 

9/29/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Image Source: Vinayaraj (commons.wikimedia)
Picture
Image Source: J.M. Garg (commons.wikimedia)
  • Can grow 30-40 ft. tall.
  • In more humid forests, some specimens can grow up to 131 ft. tall.
  • Tree attaches to host and eventually over takes it.
  • Harvested from wild for local food, medicine, and wood. 
  • Fruit is a vibrant orange-red color.
  • Range is East Asia, South China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Solomon Isles, Philippines, New Guinea, and Australia. 
  • Grows wild in a range of soils. 
     ( Source: UTP, 2014)
Comments
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