- Munroidendron
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Munroidendron racemosum 
Munroidendron racemosum growing in Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, Maui, Hawaii. Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Subfamily: Aralioideae Genus: Munroidendron
SherffSpecies: M. racemosum Binomial name Munroidendron racemosum
(C.N.Forbes) SherffSynonyms Tetraplasandra racemosa C.N.Forbes [1]
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 Kauaʻi in Hawaii.
Contents
Description
Pokulakalaka is a small tree 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 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 flowers hang in long, rope-like strands.[2]
Habitat and range
M. racemosum occurs in coastal mesic and mixed mesic forests at elevations of 120–400 m (390–1,300 ft), where it grows on exposed cliffs and ridges. Associated plant species include papala kepau (Pisonia umbellifera), ʻāwikiwiki (Canavalia galeata), ʻilima (Sida fallax), ʻōlulu (Brighamia insignis), alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata), kōpiko (Psychotria spp.), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), ʻahakea (Bobea timonioides), hala pepe (Pleomele aurea), and ʻālaʻa (Pouteria sandwicensis).[3] It occurs naturally in only three locations on Kauaʻi: Nounou Mountain, the cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast, and Nāwiliwili Bay.
References
- ^ "Taxon: Munroidendron racemosum (C. N. Forbes) Sherff". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1997-05-22. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?320397. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
- ^ "Munroidendron racemosum". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/mun-race.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ "Munroidendron racemosum". CPC National Collection Plant Profiles. Center for Plant Conservation. 2008-07-22. http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=29063. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
External links
Media related to Munroidendron racemosum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Munroidendron racemosum at Wikispecies- "Munroidendron racemosum". Meet the Plants. National Tropical Botanical Garden. http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=7754.
Categories:- IUCN Red List critically endangered species
- Araliaceae
- Endemic flora of Hawaii
- Trees of Hawaii
- Critically endangered flora of the United States
- Monotypic plant genera
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