Sideroxylon polynesicum
Genus
Sideroxylon
Species
polynesicum
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Keahi
Hawaiian Names
- Keahi
Common Names
- Hawaiian nesoluma
- Island nesoluma
Synonyms
- Chrysophyllum polynesicum
- Nesoluma polynesicum
Distribution Status
Indigenous
Endangered Species Status
At Risk
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Shrub
- Tree
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Medium, 6 to 10
- Shrub, Tall, Greater than 10
- Tree, Small, 15 to 30
- Tree, Medium, 30 to 50
Mature Size, Width
25 to nearly 30 feet
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Screening
- Specimen Plant
Additional Landscape Use Information
These handsome small trees should to be grown more in the landscape and do not seem to be difficult to maintain.
Source of Fragrance
- Flowers
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Greenish-White
Additional Flower Color Information
The flowers are rusty brown on outside and greenish-white inside. [2]
Blooming Period
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
Many brownish to dark purple fruits, resembling olives, form after flowering. Fruits are very sticky inside. [2]
Plant texture
- Medium
Additional Plant Texture Information
Plant leaves are leathery and range between 1 and 5 inches long.
Leaf Colors
- Dark Green
- Medium Green
- Red
Additional Leaf Color Information
Young leaves have a beautiful rusty brown fuzz on lower surface, while shiny above and loses much of the fuzziness as it ages. [2]
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Ants, scales, mealybugs, thrips, aphids, and black twig borers.
Water Requirements
- Dry
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Tolerances
- Drought
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Lānaʻi
- Maui
- Hawaiʻi
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 1000 to 1999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 2000 to 2999, 0 to 50 (Dry)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
Formerly a common part of dry forests, but now rare in remnant patches of dry forests due to loss of habitat from about 425 to 2,100 feet. [2] Interestingly, keahi is found on ʻŌkala, an islet off Molokaʻi. [3]
In the Hawaiian Islands, keahi is considered a vulnerable and rare species even though it is indigenous.
This species is also found in the Austral Islands on the islands of Raivavae and on Rapa, or Rapa Iti (Little Rapa). [1]
Special Features and Information
General Information
Keahi (Sideroxylon polynesicum) belongs to the Sapodilla family (Sapotaceae). There about 70 species of Sideroxylon, a number them particularly in the Caribbean Region, are considered as Vulnerable to Critically Endangered by The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The indigenous keahi, and its endemic relative ʻālaʻa (Planchonella sandwicensis), are the only two in this family native to the Hawaiian Islands.
Some edible family members include Sapodilla or Sapota (Manilkara zapota); the natural, original chewing Gum chicle (Manilkara chicle); Star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito); Mamey sapote or Abricó (Pouteria sapota); Canistel (Pouteria campechiana); and the incredible Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), which when eaten alters the tongues taste receptors turning bitter or sour foods, such as lemons and limes, sweet!
One truly notable realtive of Keahi is Tambalacoque or Dodo tree (Sideroxylon grandiflorum), endemic to Mauritius. The Dodo, which became extinct in the 17th century, ate Tambalacoque fruits, and it was once thought that only by passing through the digestive tract of the Dodo could the seeds germinate. However, new evidence proves otherwise. [continue]
Etymology
The generic name Sideroxylon is derived from the Greek sidera, iron, and xylon, wood, in reference to its very hard wood.
The specific epithet polynesicum literally means "from the Polynesian islands."
Background Information
The fruits of keahi look like they might be delicious, but they are extremely sticky and inedible.
Modern Use
The hard wood is durable but apparently not used. [2]
Additional References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral_Islands [accessed 11/3/08]
[2] "Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced)" by Elbert L. Little, Jr. and Roger G. Skolmen, page 316.
[3] Offshore Islet Restoration Committee http://hawaiioirc.org/OIRC-ISLETS.htm [Accessed 8/7/13]
PHOTOS FOR THIS SPECIES CAN BE SEEN AT THE LINK (Copy & Paste to your browser):
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50823119%40N08&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=Sideroxylon%20polynesicum
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