Rhus sandwicensis

Rhus sandwicensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Anacardiaceae
Genus:	Rhus
Species:	R. sandwicensis
Binomial name
Rhus sandwicensis A.Gray
Synonyms
Rhus chinensis var. sandwicensis (A.Gray) Deg. & Greenwell Rhus semialata var. sandwicensis (A.Gray) Engler[1]

Rhus sandwicensis, commonly known as Neneleau or Hawaiian Sumac, is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is small tree, reaching a height of 4.5–7.5 m (15–25 ft) and a trunk diameter of 10–30 cm (3.9–12 in). Neneleau inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic and wet forests at elevations of 180–610 m (590–2,000 ft) on all main islands.^[1]

Uses

Neneleau wood was used by Native Hawaiians to make laʻau lomi lomi (massage sticks) and ʻumeke (calabashes).^[2]

Cultural significance

Neneleau is mentioned in the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989). "Neneleau, Hawaiian sumac" (PDF). Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced). United States Forest Service. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Rhus_sandwicensis.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-10. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998) (PDF). Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. pp. 35–36. http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/auwahi/ethnobotany_of_auwahi.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-11. 

External links

Media related to Rhus sandwicensis at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Rhus sandwicensis at Wikispecies