bio.wikisort.org - Plant

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]

Sapindus oahuensis
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
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 Hillebr. ex Radlk.[2]
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

External links

• Media related to Sapindus oahuensis at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Sapindus oahuensis at Wikispecies
• "Sapindus oahuensis". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

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