Munroidendron racemosum | |
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Munroidendron racemosum growing in Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, Maui, Hawaii. | |
Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Apiales |
Family: | Araliaceae |
Subfamily: | Aralioideae |
Genus: | Munroidendron Sherff |
Species: | M. racemosum |
Binomial name | |
Munroidendron racemosum (C.N.Forbes) Sherff |
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Synonyms | |
Tetraplasandra racemosa C.N.Forbes [1] |
Munroidendron racemosum (commonly known as Pokulakalaka), the sole species in the genus Munroidendron, is an extremely rare flowering plant in the ivy family, Araliaceae, that is endemic to the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaii.
Contents |
Pokulakalaka is a small tree growing to 25 ft (7.6 m) tall, with a straight trunk, spreading branches, and smooth, gray bark. Its leaves are pinnate, 12 in (30 cm) long, with oval leaflets, each of which is over 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. These trees drop most of their leaves during their summer blooming season. Its small, pale yellow flowers hang in long, rope-like strands.[2]
M. racemosum occurs in coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests at elevations of 120–400 m (390–1,300 ft), where it grows on exposed cliffs and ridges. Associated plant species include papala kepau (Pisonia umbellifera), ʻāwikiwiki (Canavalia galeata), ʻilima (Sida fallax), ʻōlulu (Brighamia insignis), alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata), kōpiko (Psychotria spp.), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), ʻahakea (Bobea timonioides), hala pepe (Pleomele aurea), and ʻālaʻa (Pouteria sandwicensis).[3] It occurs naturally in only three locations on Kauaʻi: Nounou Mountain, the cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast, and Haʻupu Ridge near Nāwiliwili Bay.