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Neltuma juliflora

(Sw.) Raf. (1838)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Neltuma

algaroba, big-leafed kiawe, long thorn kiawe, mesquite, prosopis

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs or trees 3–10 m tall.

Stems: Branches slightly zigzag, with stout stipular spines 1–3(–5) cm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaves with 1–2(–4) pairs of pinnae, each with (6–)12–25(–29) pairs of leaflets; Leaflets oblong, 6–16(–23) mm long, 1.5–3.2(–5.5) mm wide. Apex rounded, obtuse, or subacute. Base rounded. Surfaces glabrous, rachis with a small nectary gland below each pair of pinnae, with leaflets, with a nectary between each pair of leaflets. Leaflet margins entire. Petiolate. Stipules present as spines 1-3(-5) cm long.

Flowers: Flowers numerous, in cylindrical spikes 5–10(–15) cm long. Flowers mimosaceous, bisexual (perfect). Calyx campanulate, shortly 5-toothed. Corolla of 5 petals, corolla pale yellow, 4–5 mm long. Stamens 5–8 mm long. Ovary superior, stipitate; ovules numerous.

Fruit: Pods pale yellowish brown; cylindrical or slightly irregularly curved; usually 8–30 cm long; 0.8–1.7 cm in diameter; mesocarp fleshy; only flattened in younger stages; stipe 0.7–2 cm long; septate between the seeds. Seeds obovoid; 5–6.5 mm long; 4–5 mm wide; numerous slightly laterally compressed; with a horseshoe–shaped areole and copious endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 26; 28; 52; 56

Habitat: Arid and coastal areas.

Elevation Range: 0–10 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Neltuma juliflora var. juliflora

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Olivia Kraus
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • first naturalized collection in 1978

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sylva Tellur.: 119 (1838)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Shack Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6179 Oahu BISH 1978-07-29
2 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Mokauea Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6049 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
3 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Mitigation Islands Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6048 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
4 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Point Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6059 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
5 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3522 Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
6 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
7 Neltuma juliflora Koko Head, near spring at the NW side of the mud flats near Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Harris, J.A. 242149 Oahu BISH 1924-08-26
8 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
9 Neltuma juliflora Sand Island access road. Immediately after drawbridge/ right side of road Preserved_Specimen Matayoshi, N. Oahu BISH 1986-04-22
10 Neltuma juliflora Waimea, Pacific Missle Range Facility, Kokole Point, Major's Bay dry thicket, coral sand dunes Preserved_Specimen to 4 m armed, densely branching shrub; branches decumbent; pods pale brown, compressed; flowers greenish yellow Lorence, D.H. 8518 Kauai BISH 2001-03-10
11 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Burm Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6073 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
12 Neltuma juliflora Waimea District, along Highway 550 just north of Kekaha, on makai side of road, between raod and irrigation ditch Dry secondary vegetation, disturbed area. Preserved_Specimen Densely branching armed shrub 3-4 m tall, stems purple. Naturalized, invasive. Halabisky, M. Kauai BISH 2002-07-30
13 Neltuma juliflora Between Hauola and Nahoko at Kaikena Single plant observed among Prosopis pallida. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50622 Lanai BISH 2006-05-10
14 Neltuma juliflora Waimea District, along Highway 50 east of PMRF (near Mana), by DOFAW bird sanctuary. Located on ridge along side a waterway (irrigation canal) Disturbed area with dry secondary vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Armed shrub 3-4 m with dense sprawling branches. Stems purplish. Naturalized, invasive. Halabisky, M. Kauai BISH 2002-07-30
15 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu, Hickam Air Force Base, near the FAA control tower Dry inland area, no visible water source. Preserved_Specimen Tree ca 25 ft tall, with thorns nearly 2 long; flowers in racemes, no fruits seen. Arakaki, D. Oahu BISH 2000-10-17
16 Neltuma juliflora Pacific Missile Firing Range, Kekaha, shoreline, at highwater mark Coastal seashore, arid, coral/sand. Preserved_Specimen Bush 6ft ht with flowers; green seed pods found only. Matayoshi, N. Kauai BISH 2000-11-17
17 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu, between Keehi Boat Harbors North and South Dry, weedy wasteland near the ocean. Prosopis pallida growing nearby. Preserved_Specimen Spreading tree 10 ft. tall, in a small naturalized population. Imada, C. 200456 Oahu BISH 2004-09-30
18 Neltuma juliflora Pacific Missile Firing Range, Kekaha, shoreline, at highwater mark Coastal seashore, arid, coral/sand. Preserved_Specimen Bush 6ft ht with flowers; green seed pods found only. Matayoshi, N. Kauai BISH 2000-11-17
19 Neltuma juliflora S shore, Kapalawai, makai of Hwy 50 Spreading 15 ft. tall tree on beach just above high tide mark, growing with Ipomoea pes-caprae. Plants of various ages scattered along the beach in this area. Preserved_Specimen Spines very stout. Imada, C. 994 Kauai BISH 1999-03-06
20 Neltuma juliflora Waianae, 87-162 Maipalaoa Rd., off Farrington Hwy. along Maili Stream Approximately 100 plants, in some areas forming dense stands. Preserved_Specimen Tree 4-10 ft tall, very thorny; flws in spikes. Arakaki, D. Oahu BISH 2000-08-22
21 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu, Kaka'ako waterfront park Very close to ocean. With Naupaka Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 2m Faccenda, K. 2076 Oahu BISH 2021-08-07
22 Neltuma juliflora Ewa, Oneula Beach Park. WGS84 coordinates: Lat. 21.306600,, Long. -158.9026729 (50m accuracy.) Sunny ddry area on edge of beach. Common in park along with more typical P. pallida. Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 3066 Oahu BISH 2023-03-13
23 Neltuma juliflora Kekaha, Hukipo Road, next to aquaduct Two trees next to aquaduct on side of last house on road. Sandy road going West along the aquaduct w/ a homeless campsite not explored. Plants reported to KISC for follow-up. Preserved_Specimen Trees about 8 ft. tall. Sterile Tangalin, N. 1546 Kauai BISH 2007-09-14
24 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu, Hickam Air Force Base, near the FAA control tower Dry inland area, no visible water source. Preserved_Specimen Tree ca 25 ft tall, with thorns nearly 2 long; flowers in racemes, no fruits seen. Arakaki, D. Oahu BISH 2000-10-17
25 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3407 Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
26 Neltuma juliflora Ewa, U.S. Navy property, along seashore Preserved_Specimen Shrub 8 ft. tall. Thorns stout, 2.5 in. long. Flowering and fruiting. Matayoshi, N. 1003 Oahu BISH 2001-01-25
27 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Kahakaaulana Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6091 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
28 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3520 Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
29 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon Common, Sand set at inner NW corner of triangle formed by seaplane runways Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1960 Oahu BISH 1971-06-13
30 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Mokauea Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6092 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
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