Munroidendron racemosum
Encyclopedia
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 Kauai
in Hawaii
.
growing to 25 ft (7.6 m) tall, with a straight trunk, spreading branches, and smooth, gray bark. Its leaves
are pinnate, 12 in (30.5 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 flower
s hang in long, rope-like strands.
), āwikiwiki (Canavalia
galeata), ilima (Sida fallax
), ōlulu (Brighamia insignis
), alahee (Psydrax odorata
), kōpiko (Psychotria
spp.), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis
), ahakea (Bobea timonioides
), hala pepe (Pleomele aurea
), and ālaa (Pouteria
sandwicensis
). It occurs naturally in only three locations on Kauai: Nounou Mountain
, the cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast
, and Haupu Ridge near Nāwiliwili Bay
.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
in the ivy
Ivy
Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they...
family, Araliaceae
Araliaceae
Araliaceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the Aralia family or Ivy family. The family includes 254 species of trees, shrubs, lianas and perennial herbaceous plants into 2 subfamilies...
, that is endemic to the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Description
Pokulakalaka is a small treeTree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
growing to 25 ft (7.6 m) tall, with a straight trunk, spreading branches, and smooth, gray bark. Its leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are pinnate, 12 in (30.5 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 flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s hang in long, rope-like strands.
Habitat and range
M. racemosum occurs in coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests at elevations of 120–400 m (393.7–1,312.3 ft), where it grows on exposed cliffs and ridges. Associated plant species include papala kepau (Pisonia umbelliferaPisonia umbellifera
Pisonia umbellifera, commonly known as the Bird-lime Tree, is a species of plant in the Nyctaginaceae family. It grows throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is native to the Andaman Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Hawaii and Madagascar and the...
), āwikiwiki (Canavalia
Canavalia
Canavalia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family and comprises approximately 70-75 species of tropical vines. Members of the genus are commonly known as jack-beans. The species of Canavalia endemic to the Hawaiian Islands were named āwikiwiki by the Native Hawaiians...
galeata), ilima (Sida fallax
Sida fallax
Sida fallax, known as ilima in Hawaiian, is a species of herbaceous flowering plant in the Hibiscus family, Malvaceae, that occurs on most of the Pacific Islands. The flowers are small, in diameter, have five petals, and are a golden yellow in color. Plants may be erect or prostrate and are found...
), ōlulu (Brighamia insignis
Brighamia insignis
Brighamia insignis, commonly known as Ōlulu or Alula in Hawaiian, or colloquially as cabbage on a stick, is a critically endangered species of Hawaiian lobelioid in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. It is native to the islands of Kauai and Niihau...
), alahee (Psydrax odorata
Psydrax odorata
Psydrax odorata, known as Alahee in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to the Pacific Islands, Malesia and Australasia...
), kōpiko (Psychotria
Psychotria
Psychotria is a plant genus of 1900 species in the family Rubiaceae. Members of the genus are low trees in tropical forests. The distinction between Psychotria and the genus Cephaelis are not well known and many species were formerly placed there....
spp.), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis
Nestegis sandwicensis
Nestegis sandwicensis, commonly known as Olopua, is a species of flowering tree in the olive family, Oleaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is found on all major islands at elevations of in coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests, and, especially, dry forests...
), ahakea (Bobea timonioides
Bobea timonioides
Ahakea is a species of flowering tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It inhabits dry, coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests at elevations of on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Bruegmann, M.M. & Caraway, V. 2003. . ...
), hala pepe (Pleomele aurea
Pleomele aurea
Pleomele aurea is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It inhabits coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests at elevations of . It is a small evergreen tree, usually tall, but sometimes reaches . The gray, straight trunk does not have bark and is in...
), and ālaa (Pouteria
Pouteria
Pouteria is a genus of flowering trees in the gutta-percha family, Sapotaceae. The genus is widespread throughout the tropical regions of the world. It includes the Canistel , the Mamey Sapote and the Lúcuma...
sandwicensis
Pouteria sandwicensis
Pouteria sandwicensis is a species of flowering tree in the sapodilla family, Sapotaceae, that is endemic to the main islands of Hawaii. Names for this species in the Hawaiian language include Ālaa, Āulu and Ēlaa....
). It occurs naturally in only three locations on Kauai: Nounou Mountain
Sleeping Giant (Kauai)
Sleeping Giant, also known as Nounou Mountain, is a mountain ridge located west of the towns Wailua and Kapaa in the Nounou Forest Reserve on the Hawaiian island of Kauai...
, the cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast
Na Pali Coast State Park
Nā Pali Coast State Park encompasses of land and is located in the center of the rugged along the northwest side of Kauai, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. The Nā Pali coast itself extends southwest starting at Kee Beach extending all the way to Polihale State Park. The pali rise as high as...
, and Haupu Ridge near Nāwiliwili Bay
Nawiliwili Beach Park
Nawiliwili Beach Park is a beach park and port on the south-east coast of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.It is located on Nāwiliwili Bay at , about south of Līhue. It is at the south end of Hawaii Route 51, known as Rice Street. Just to the west is Niumalu Beach Park....
.