Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Scientific Name Pittosporum hosmeri Rock
Family Pittosporaceae

Other Names Ho`awa, Ha`awa, `a`awa, `a`awa hua kukui
Status Endemic
Distribution & Habitat This species normally grows in the elevation range from 380 to 1,070 m.  They are found primarily on leeward Hawai`i, from the Kohala Mountains south to Ka`u (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1045).
Locations in this Guide Kipuka Puaulu (although scattered in cultivation in this kipuka, you will most likely see one or two trees about 7 m to the right of the trail before the branch trail to the large Koa tree).
General Appearance
Understory trees that grow to 3 or 8 m (9 to 25 ft) tall.
Leaves
The leaves are 9 to 26 cm long, 2 to 7 cm wide.  The veins on the upper surface are fairly prominent (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1044).
Flowers & Fruits
Flowers are unisexual and the plants are dioecious.  There are 9 to 12 flowers in an inflorescence.  The petals of the flowers are cream colored (Wagner, et al. 19XX: 1045).
The seeds are abundant, with 40 to 45 in each fruit.  These black to reddish black seeds are 7 to 10 mm long.
Phenology
Natural History
Conservation
Miscellaneous Photos
Other Notes

References
Links to Other Sites

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Last Updated: 08/07/03

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