Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Scientific Name Alphitonia ponderosa Hillebr.
Family Rhamnaceae

Other Names Kauila, kauwila, o`a (Maui)
Status Endemic
Distribution & Habitat Found between the elevations of 240 and 1,250 m.  It occurs on all the main islands except Ni`ihau and Kaho`olawe.  It is rare everywhere except on Kauai`i (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1092).
Locations in this Guide  
General Appearance
A tree, 4 to 25 m tall.  It has whitish bark.
Leaves
The leaves are usually 8 to 15 cm long and 2.5 to 7 cm wide.  The top of the leaves dark green and somewhat glossy.  Look for hairs on the lower surface that may appear rusty.  The lower surface of older leaves may turn white (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1092)..
Flowers & Fruits
The fruit are black, 14 to 18 mm in diameter, with a wrinkled surface.

Seeds are brown and about 6 mm long (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1092).

Phenology
Natural History
Conservation
Miscellaneous Photos
Other Notes The wood of this species is heavy, and is characteristically is very hard, strong and durable.  The Hawaiians used it for tools where these characteristics are important, such as kapa mallets, javelins, spears and digging sticks (`o`o) (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1093).

References
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Last Updated: 08/07/03

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