Citharexylum caudatum

L. (1763)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Verbenaceae Genus: Citharexylum

fiddlewood, juniperberry

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Large shrubs or small trees up to 20 m tall.

Stems: Branches nearly terete (cylindrical), glabrous.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite or whorled (decussate, ternate, or verticillate). Blades oblong to obovate or elliptic–oblanceolate, 7–16 cm long, 3.5–5 cm wide. Apex rounded or obtuse. Base cuneate. Surfaces glabrous, blades somewhat leathery; upper surfaces glossy; lower surfaces dull. Margins entire. Petioles green, 1–2 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers axillary and terminal, in narrow, elongate–recurved racemes 4–10 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect); pedicels usually 2–5 mm long. Calyx campanulate, thin, ca. 3 mm long, the rim unlobed and truncate in fruit. Corolla nearly actinomorphic, white, (4)5(6)-lobed, the lobes slightly irregular, imbricate. Stamens 4, alternate with the corolla lobes; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, placentation axile, 4-celled; ovules 1 per cell, attached laterally, erect, anatropous; style terminal; stigma shortly 2-lobed.

Fruit: Fruit drupaceous; splitting into 2 2–celled pyrenes; exocarp juicy; endocarp hard; purplish black; oblong–globose; ca. 5–8 mm long. Seeds 2 per pyrene.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 872 (1763)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1317 (O); Nagata 1995:13 (O); Starr et al. 1999:14 (EM); Oppenheimer 2003:26 (H); Starr et al. 2004:28 (K); Staples & Herbst 2005:558 (DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa Cliffs Trail Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6125 Oahu BISH 1969-09-27
2 Citharexylum caudatum Pauoa Flats Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1953-08-01
3 Citharexylum caudatum Oahu Preserved_Specimen 26 Oahu BISH 1963-10-01
4 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa falls trail along stream Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 43 Oahu BISH 1988-09-21
5 Citharexylum caudatum Poamoho Ridge Trail, Ewa Forest Reserve, Koolau Range, 5-10 mi NE of Wahiawa wet forest Preserved_Specimen Little Jr., E.L. 31191 Oahu BISH 1976-09-10
6 Citharexylum caudatum Lihue District. On the side of the New Hulemalu Road, west of Puhi. About 20 mature trees naturalized in pasture. Preserved_Specimen Small tree approximately 4 meters tall, leaves medium green and shiny; flowers white, sweet smelling. No fruits observed. Brock, K. 877 Kauai BISH 2016-03-28
7 Citharexylum caudatum Wailua, Wailua Homesteads, on Opaekaa Rd, just past Olu lane on E side of street in and empty lot and along roadside Collected as part of KISC 2007 Early Detection Roadside Survey. KISC #2007059A002 W/ Triumfetta semitriloba, Hyptis, Psidium cattleianum, Fiscus lyrata, Spathodea campanulata, Stachytarpheta Preserved_Specimen Mostly young trees up to 5 ft. tall. Common along raodsides in this area. Yellow and black pendent fruit. Leaves yellow-green above, slightly lighet below. Flowers in terminal spikes. Flowers white, w/ green inside the corolla tube, yellow stamens Tangalin, N. 1285 Kauai BISH 2007-05-29
8 Citharexylum caudatum Honolulu, Manoa area, Woodlawn Drive full sun Preserved_Specimen multi-trunked tree 4 m naturalized in the scrub at roadside. Flowers white; have a strong fragrance (noon). Fruits not quite mature becoming orange Lau, J. 1712 Oahu BISH 1985-12-05
9 Citharexylum caudatum Honolulu Distr., Wiliwilinui Trail, alongside open dirt track soon after leaving paved road portion of hike. Disturbed habitat with Casuarina equisetifolia and Acacia confusa overstory along with Psidium cattleianum and Schinus terebinthifolia. Preserved_Specimen Small trees 8 ft tall Kennedy, B. 151 Oahu BISH 2024-04-28
10 Citharexylum caudatum Lihue District. Kauai Nursery and Landscaping. 3-1550 Kaumualii Hwy, Puhi. Maintained nursery area with secondary vegetation along margins. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized tree of 20 ft. Leaves dull pale green above, faintly paler below; flowers white; fruit glossy pale green to yellow green, ripening burnt orange and finally dark blackish-brown, 2 seeds per fruit. Locally common. Flynn, T.W. 8687 Kauai BISH 2016-08-30
11 Citharexylum caudatum Windward-side, Kailua, Maunawili area, along an unpaved fire access road running off Maunawili Loop down into valley Disturbed secondary vegetation composed of numerous alien species. Preserved_Specimen Seedlings 12-16 tall growing in understory; many mature trees of C. caudatum observed nearby. Staples, G.W. 1195 Oahu BISH 1999-11-28
12 Citharexylum caudatum Kipapa Trail, S of trail, 4th drainage E of Puu Kamana, W bank disturbed wet lowland forest; Metrosideros, Acacia, Dicranopteris, Psidium cattleianum Preserved_Specimen ~3 m tree, spindly, moderately branched; flower small, white, on racemose inflorescence; fruit globose, orange Reynolds, L.S. 135 Oahu BISH 2006-06-13
13 Citharexylum caudatum Koolau Mts., Honolulu Forest Reserve, north of Honolulu. Manoa Cliffs Trail Wet forest on windswept ridge. Preserved_Specimen Shrubby tree, 3m ht; fruits orange. Lammers, T.G. 5321 Oahu BISH 1983-08-27
14 Citharexylum caudatum Anahola. Kawaihau District, Kealia Rd, near Kuhio Hwy Associated vegetation: Caesalpinia decapetala, Pyrostegia venusta, Spathodea. Preserved_Specimen Tree 4-5m ht. Starr, F. 202252 Kauai BISH 2002-02-25
15 Citharexylum caudatum Onomea, below highway between Kawainui Stream and old Onomea ditch Common on edges of old quarry, growing with pasture grasses and scrub. Preserved_Specimen Young trees. Uyehara, K.J. Hawaii BISH 2001-07-10
16 Citharexylum caudatum Koolau Range, 47-285 Pulama Rd., Kaneohe, Senator Fong's Plantation and Garden with Schefflera and Schinus; lowland mesic forest Preserved_Specimen tree; fruit orange maturing black Annable, C.R. 3027 Oahu BISH 1996-09-10
17 Citharexylum caudatum East Maui, Hana District, Puohoakamoa, east side of stream in Pandanus/Scaevola Coastal Forest. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized trees, flowers white, fruit orange Oppenheimer, H.L. 112307 Maui BISH 2023-11-01
18 Citharexylum caudatum UH-Hilo Coming up in scrub forest adjacent to UH-Hilo. Associated vegetation: Melastoma candidum, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa. Preserved_Specimen Erect perennial tree, many size classes seen up to 5m tall; foliage scentless w. no prickles; flowers cream w. slight scent; fruit orange. Starr, F. 108012 Hawaii BISH 2001-08-01
19 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa Cliffs trail on slope below trail Preserved_Specimen Tree ~20', white flowers in narrow clusters Leu, M. 43 Oahu BISH 1987-11-30
20 Citharexylum caudatum UH-Hilo Coming up in scrub forest adjacent to UH-Hilo. Associated vegetation: Melastoma candidum, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa. Preserved_Specimen Erect perennial tree, many size classes seen up to 5m tall; foliage scentless w. no prickles; flowers cream w. slight scent; fruit orange. Starr, F. 108012 Hawaii BISH 2001-08-01
21 Citharexylum caudatum S Hilo District, along Hwy 19 Growing in open fields and in gullies. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 70137 Hawaii BISH 2001-07-29
22 Citharexylum caudatum 10' from water of Manoa Stream, behinc East West Center fishpond Preserved_Specimen Height 6 ft. Kow, A. 0.1 Oahu BISH 1983-06-30
23 Citharexylum caudatum Lihue, Puhi, Kauai Nursery and Landscaping Preserved_Specimen 12' tree; leaves glossy medium green above, duller, paler below; petioles winged, tinged pink; inflorescence branches pale green; calyx same; petals in bud pale greenish cream, open flowers white, fragrant, 10 am Flynn, T.W. 7115 Kauai BISH 2004-02-13
24 Citharexylum caudatum 10' from water of Manoa Stream, behinc East West Center fishpond Preserved_Specimen Height 6 ft. Kow, A. 0.1 Oahu BISH 1983-06-30
25 Citharexylum caudatum W Maui, W Kuiaha rd in Haiku Bamboo thicket. Associated with Citharexlyum spinosum, Psidium cattleianum, Psidium guajava. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 98040249 Maui BISH 1998-04-02
26 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa Cliffs Trail Preserved_Specimen ################ Sohmer, S.H. 6126 Oahu BISH 1969-09-27
27 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa Cliffs Trail Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6125 Oahu BISH 1969-09-27
28 Citharexylum caudatum Top of St. Louis Hts, Waahila Trail Preserved_Specimen Bush ca. 6 ft ht, lvs eliptic oblanceolate, in fruit. Kennedy, B. 27 Oahu BISH 1995-12-15
29 Citharexylum caudatum Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen small, shrubby tree with somewhat leathery leaves, white flowers, black fruit Herbst, D.R. 619 Oahu BISH 1967-09-25
30 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa Valley, H.S.P.A. arboretum Preserved_Specimen tree, 5 m Egler, F.E. 3790 Oahu BISH 1937-07-02
31 Citharexylum caudatum Honolulu, near head of Manoa Valley, property of H.S.P.A in Robt. Aitken's garden from a slip Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1938-06-05
32 Citharexylum caudatum Lyon Arboretum Preserved_Specimen 2 in. dbh. Ht: 12 ft. Nagata, K.M. 224 Oahu BISH 1967-06-14
33 Citharexylum caudatum Honolulu, Manoa Arboretum Preserved_Specimen Fruit sweet and juicy, red, ripening black; flowers white. Board of Agriculture and Forestry Oahu BISH 1955-10-19
34 Citharexylum caudatum Manoa Arboretum, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Fruit sweet and juicy, red, ripening black. Flowers white Board of Agriculture and Forestry Oahu BISH 1955-10-19
35 Citharexylum caudatum Koolau Mts., Honolulu Forest Reserve, north of Honolulu. Manoa Cliffs Trail, near Hawaiian Telephone Company facility Preserved_Specimen Shrub 3 m; fls. white Lammers, T.G. 5312 Oahu BISH 1983-08-27
36 Citharexylum caudatum Trail along NE side of Mt. Tantalus Preserved_Specimen Calyx and corolla tube pale green, corolla lobes white; fruits orang Crosby, M.R. 1342 Oahu BISH 1964-06-13
37 Citharexylum caudatum Honolulu, Foster Gardens Preserved_Specimen Berries green, turning orange Potter, C. Oahu BISH 1957-11-26