Psydrax odorata

Psydrax odorata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Ixoroideae
Tribe: Vanguerieae
Genus: Psydrax
Species: P. odorata
Binomial name
Psydrax odorata
(G.Forst.) A.C.Sm. & S.P.Darwin
Synonyms

Canthium odoratum (G.Forst.) Seem.[1]

Psydrax odorata, known as Alaheʻe in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae,[2] that is native to the Pacific Islands, Malesia and Australasia.[3] It ranges from 6–30 ft (1.8–9.1 m) in height, has a spread of 3–7 ft (0.91–2.1 m),[4] and a trunk width of up to 4 in (10 cm).[5]

Uses

Native Hawaiians used the very hard wood of alaheʻe to make koʻi alaheʻe (adzes for cutting softer woods such as Erythrina sandwicensis), ʻōʻō (digging sticks), and ʻo (short spears). A black dye was made from the leaves.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Canthium odoratum (G. Forst.) Seem.". ITIS Standard Reports. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35150. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
  2. ^ "Psydrax odorata (G. Forst.) A.C. Sm. & S. Darwin". The PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PSOD. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
  3. ^ a b Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998) (PDF). Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/auwahi/ethnobotany_of_auwahi.pdf. 
  4. ^ "Psydrax odorata". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/psy-odor.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
  5. ^ Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989). "Alaheʻe" (PDF). Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced). United States Forest Service. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Canthium_odoratum.pdf. 

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Psydrax_odorata Psydrax odorata] at Wikimedia Commons