img

Polyscias lallanii

R.Kr.Singh & Sanjeet Kumar (2010)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Genus: Polyscias

munroidendron, pōkalakala

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees up to ca. 7 m tall, with a straight trunk and spreading branches, bark gray, smooth, secretory canals present in most parts.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (pinnate). Alternate. Blades 15–30 cm long; leaflets ovate to elliptic, 8–17 cm long, 4–10(–12) cm wide. Apex broadly acute to obtuse or emarginate. Base cordate (obliquely so on lateral leaflets). Margins entire. Sessile or with a short petiolule up to 5 mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Pedicels alternate to subverticillate, 4–6 mm long. Calyx a truncate rim. Petals pale yellowish, lanceolate, 8–10 mm long, upper surface glabrous, lower surface whitish stellate–furfuraceous. Stamens 10–15 in a single whorl; filaments yellowish, ascending, 56–7 mm long; anthers dark yellow, versatile, 4.5–5 mm long. Ovary inferior stellate–furfuraceous, surmounted by a flat–topped, glabrous, dark red disk.

Fruit: Drupes (and ovary) stellate–furfuraceous; surmounted by a flat–topped; glabrous; dark red disk. Seeds 1 per pyrene; embryo small.

Ploidy: 2n = 48

Habitat: Occurring in mesic forest on Kaua‘i; and known to occur naturally in only 3 areas: Nounou Mountain; cliffs along the Nāpali Coast; and Hā‘upu Ridge near Nāwiliwili Bay.

Elevation Range: 120–400 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • According to Obata, flowering season for Munroidendron racemosum is variable having been observed in both spring and fall. Fruits mature in about 75 days.
  • The seeds of Munroidendron racemosum are contained in a pulpy fruit. NTBG recommends removing the pulp by washing the fruits through a strainer. The seeds will germinate without removal of the pulp, but there are less insect and disease problems if the seeds are cleaned. After discarding the pulp, soak the seeds in cold water for 24 hours. Discard any floating seeds and dry the rest. Plant the dried seeds in a mixture of 3 parts perlite to 1 part peat or cinder.
  • Ragone reported a 52% germination rate within 36 days for fresh seed with no pretreatment. However, seed viability rapidly declined when stored at 80 degress F and 25% relative humidity. After 10 months of storage, the germination percentage had dropped to 1% or less. Using a 24 hour cold water soak pretreatment on seeds stored for 9 months resulted in an increase of germination percentage to 11%, but it took 6 months for all of these seeds to germinate. Obata characterized the germination rate for this plant as "fair" and observed that trees grown from seed bloomed in 4 years. (Obata 1973; Obata 1979; NTBG 1992; Ragone 1993) [Data from Herring, E. C., & Criley, R. A. (2003). The Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Web Site: Developing a Webbased Information Resource. HortTechnology, 13(3), 545-548. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/]

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Endemic
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • This species is extremely rare and was thought by Munro (cf. Sherff, 1956) possibly to be extinct. A few individuals have been observed recently on Hā‘upu Ridge (S. Lucas, pers. comm.), along the Nāpali Coast, and on Nounou Mountain at the south end of th

Bibliography

Name Published In: J. Biodivers. Conservation 8(2): 18 (2024)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:229 (K [as Munroidendron racemosum]); Herbst & Wagner 1996:9 (REDISCOVER/K); Lowry & Plunkett 2010:74 (COMBNOV, Syn. M. racemosum = Polyscias racemosa [nom. illeg.]); Singh & Kumar 2024:18 (NOMNOV, P. racemosa = P. lallanii); Lowry et al. 2024:80 (NOMNOV, P. racemosa = P. munroi [nom. illeg.]

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Aleurites canopy with Psidium guajava understory, some relic patches of native Dodonaea viscosa shrubland and trees of Metrosideros, Diospyros, Psydrax, dead fallen Flueggea occcasional. Preserved_Specimen Tree, 11 m tall, 50 cm diameter near base, seed collected, excellent gulch for biologists to collect Munroidendron seeds with ca 13 trees. Wood, K.R. 13430 Kauai BISH 2009-01-22
2 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Northeast slope of valley. Preserved_Specimen No flowers. Small tree, about 12' tall. ESP Field Crew 5 Kauai BISH 1979-07-16
3 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Remnant dry-land forest badly disturbed by goats and invaded by Melia, Lantana, etc. Preserved_Specimen One tree with double trunck ca. 8 m tall. Leaves just expanding, fruit, flowers, and developing inflorescence also present. Ripe fruit purple covered with whitish tomentum, soft pruple within. Fay, J.J. Kauai BISH 1988-11-12
4 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In company with Pandanus, Aleurites, Lantana, and Psidium guajava. Preserved_Specimen Tree 40 ft x 20 to 24 inches, rather broad branching. Lamoureux, C.H. 1599 Kauai BISH 1961-02-07
5 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details With Kukui in damp pockets. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 107 Kauai BISH 1969-05-11
6 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Aleurites canopy with Psidium guajava understory, some relic patches of native Dodonaea viscosa shrubland and trees of Metrosideros, Diospyros, Psydrax, dead fallen Flueggea occcasional. Preserved_Specimen Tree, 11 m tall, 50 cm diameter near base, seed collected, excellent gulch for biologists to collect Munroidendron seeds with ca 13 trees. Wood, K.R. 13430 Kauai BISH 2009-01-22
7 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Aleurites canopy with Psidium guajava understory, some relic patches of native Dodonaea viscosa shrubland and trees of Metrosideros, Diospyros, Psydrax, dead fallen Flueggea occcasional. Preserved_Specimen Larger of 2 trees next to each other, with mature frt, ca 7 m tall, 40 cm diam, nr base, 350 deg N aspect, vigorous. Wood, K.R. 13425 Kauai BISH 2009-01-22
8 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Psydrax odorata, Hibiscus kokio, Aleurites, Syzygium cumini, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Boehmeria grandis, Munroidendron racemosum, Carex meyerii Preserved_Specimen 5 m tree; trunk brown gray, mottled Wood, K.R. 8581 Kauai BISH 2000-06-28
9 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Cultivated tree. Flynn, T.W. Kauai BISH 1984-09-11
10 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Trees beginning to flower, nearly devoid of leaves. Hobdy, R.W. 1798 Kauai BISH 1983-08-19
11 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Two tree of 15 ft along trail. Sterile. Leaves dark glossy green above, below covered with a tawny coloured pubescence. Flynn, T.W. Kauai BISH 1986-07-16
12 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Unhealthy tree 20 ft. Aphids & potential rats eating at the branches. Lack of irrigation indicated by dry soil. Yellow flowers and red fruits, potentially due to stress. Droopy leaves. Apex lacks foliage, while lower branches has a few foliage. Bee pollinated. Soft, fuzzy leaf might protect against UV. Faint floral scent. Small amount of nectar. Bud, flower & immature fruit. Dieback >60%. LCR 25% B. Crose 67 Oahu BISH 2023-11-02
13 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details mixed mesic forest, summer dry, steep slopes and cliff habitat Diospyros sandwicensis, Acacia koaia, Planchonella sandwicensis, Santalum pyrularium, Draceana aurea, Myrsine lanaiensis, Rauvolfia sandwicnesis, Psydrax odorata, Hibiscus waimeae, Flueggea neowawraea Preserved_Specimen tree, 8 m tall, 35 cm diameter at base, with fruit, mapped Wood, K.R. 15361 Kauai BISH 2013-01-24
14 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 709 Kauai BISH 1916-10-31
15 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Unhealthy tree 20 ft. Aphids & potential rats eating at the branches. Lack of irrigation indicated by dry soil. Yellow flowers and red fruits, potentially due to stress. Droopy leaves. Apex lacks foliage, while lower branches has a few foliage. Bee pollinated. Soft, fuzzy leaf might protect against UV. Faint floral scent. Small amount of nectar. Bud, flower & immature fruit. Dieback >60%. LCR 25% B. Crose 67 Oahu BISH 2023-11-02
16 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Montgomery, S.L. 1 Kauai BISH 1970-08-20
17 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details With Pandanus, Ceodes, Aleurites in Psidium forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree 40 ft high with white bark; flowers with cream-colored perianth segments within, strongly ribbed on both surfaces; fruits with purple-black apex; species is very rare today. Stern, W.L. 1352 Kauai BISH 1961-08-01
18 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 595 Kauai BISH 1916-10-16
19 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 595 Kauai BISH 1916-10-16
20 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 709 Kauai BISH 1916-10-31
21 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 595 Kauai BISH 1916-10-16
22 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 595 Kauai BISH 1916-10-16
23 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Oahu BISH 1962-01-01
24 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Kato, T. Kauai BISH 1962-12-01
25 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Degraded nearly totally invasive once Diverse Mesic Forest Understory of Urochloa, Melinis repens, Sida fallax, Lantana, Pluchea, Stachytarpheta, naturalized Cyclosorus, Asplenium nidus. Overstory of Schinus terebinthifolius, Morinda citrifolia, Psydrax odor Preserved_Specimen 35 ft tall tree w/ DBH of about 2.5 ft. Bark light w/ crustose rought lichen. Lvs. w/ brn tomentose below, med green above w/ scales. Tree w/ hanging spikes of bud and immature fruit. Fruit covered in scruff, purple pulp, wedge hard seeds, apex glabrous w/ crown of oval stamen bases Tangalin, N. 2958 Kauai BISH 2012-01-31
26 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Montgomery, S.L. 1 Kauai BISH 1970-08-20
27 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 595 Kauai BISH 1916-10-16
28 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 7732 Maui BISH 1995-11-16
29 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Kauai BISH
30 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Oahu BISH
31 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen (Not on sheet) Kauai BISH
32 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Oahu BISH
33 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Rather dry slope Preserved_Specimen Tree, ht. 6 m. MacDaniels, L.H. 849 Kauai BISH 1927-02-23
34 Polyscias lallanii Kalalau Valley, Northeast slope Northeast slope of valley. Preserved_Specimen No flowers. Small tree, about 12' tall. ESP Field Crew 5 Kauai BISH 1979-07-16
35 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Among Psidium, Lantana, etc. Preserved_Specimen Tree 40 ft tall, leafless, with inflorescences. Exceedingly rare, decadent (?) sp. Stone, B.C. 3768 Kauai BISH 1961-08-16
36 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Aleurites canopy with Psidium guajava understory, some relic patches of native Dodonaea viscosa shrubland and trees of Metrosideros, Diospyros, Psydrax, dead fallen Flueggea occcasional. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m tall, 25 cm diameter near base, trunk gray-brown, vigorous, seed collection. Wood, K.R. 13427 Kauai BISH 2009-01-22
37 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Growing alone in grassy goat range. Preserved_Specimen An a typical tree, solitary. Tree 15 ft tall Hobdy, R.W. 106 Kauai BISH 1969-05-08
38 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Rather dry slope Preserved_Specimen Tree, ht. 6 m. MacDaniels, L.H. 849 Kauai BISH 1927-02-23
39 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Alien veg Aleurites moluccana, Psidium cattleianum, Cordyline fruticosa, Thelypteris parasitica, Syzygium cumini, Spathodea campanulata, Pipturus albidus, Sxhinus terebeinthifolius, Rubus rosifolius, Clidemia hi Preserved_Specimen tree 35-40 ft ht Perlman, S. 22781 Kauai BISH 2012-02-08
40 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Degraded Lowland Lama/ Ohia Mesic forest, with mostly non-native goat-grazed understory dominated by introduced grasses and unpalatable shrubs. Steep North-facing mid slope Psydrax odorata, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Acacia koa, Diospyros sandwicensis, Metrosideros polymorpha var. glaberrima, Flueggea neowawrea, Bobea timonioides, Chrysodracon aurea, Antidesma platyphyllum. Preserved_Specimen Single-trunked tree approximately 11m tall, partially leafed-out with young leaves still emerging from branch ends. Young leaves are pubescent, but quickly becoming glabrous throughout on older leaves. Darker green above, paler below, with petioles and rachis deep reddish purple. One infructescence and 4 inflorescences Williams, A.M. 313 Kauai BISH 2016-11-17
41 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Exposure: North. Slope: 70 degrees. Degraded mixed mesphytic forest, growing associated with; Diospyros and Lantana. Preserved_Specimen Tree to 8 ft. Trunk diameter about 12 in Spread approx. 2 ft Phenology: Fruits and Flowers. Census: Saplings-2, Mature-2. Wichman, C. 218 Kauai BISH 1989-12-15
42 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details degraded Aleurites mesic forest; emergent over stream Preserved_Specimen 10-12 m x ~80 cm tree; trunk gray, slightly raised texture; green-white lichen; flower, fruit Wood, K.R. 10967 Kauai BISH 2004-10-18
43 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Remnant dry-land forest badly disturbed by goats and invaded by Melia, Lantana, etc. Preserved_Specimen One tree with double trunck ca. 8 m tall. Leaves just expanding, fruit, flowers, and developing inflorescence also present. Ripe fruit purple covered with whitish tomentum, soft pruple within. Fay, J.J. Kauai BISH 1988-11-12
44 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Rather dry slope Preserved_Specimen Tree, ht. 6 m. MacDaniels, L.H. 849 Kauai BISH 1927-02-23
45 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Mesic forest dominated by Aleurites moluccana with scattered patches of Erythrina sandwicensis. Lantana camara in understory. Preserved_Specimen Tree 7 m tall. Compound lvs. Infructence a raceme. Frt covered with fine, white hairs, flesh purple when ripe. Trauernicht, C. 493 Kauai BISH 2008-05-21
46 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In secondary forest on steep slope. Preserved_Specimen Old tree 12 m tall, 4 dm dbh with thick branches, disk maroon, glossy, on immature fruit; buds unopened. Fosberg, F.R. 41475 Kauai BISH 1961-03-12
47 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dominated by Aleurites moluccana with understory of Diospyros sandwicensis, Ochrosia kauaiensis, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Psydrax odorata, Psidium guajava Preserved_Specimen tree, 7m tall, 30cm diameter at base Wood, K.R. 11629 Kauai BISH 2005-11-22
48 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In secondary forest on steep slope. Preserved_Specimen Old tree 12 m tall, 4 dm dbh with thick branches, disk maroon, glossy, on immature fruit; buds unopened. Fosberg, F.R. 41475 Kauai BISH 1961-03-12
49 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Degraded Diverse Mesic forest W/ Psydrax, sapindus oahuensis, Melia, Diospyros, Lantana, Plumbago, Syzygium cumini, Psidium guajava, Erythrina sandwicensis, Aleurites, Stachytarpheta, Coffea, Diospyros, Sida, Urena lobata. Preserved_Specimen Tree in side gulch above dry stream. 15 ft tall. Leaflets light dull green below glabrous w/ raised light green venation, above med-green with raised light green midrib and lateral veins. Petiols purple. Fruit hanging, individuals ridged w/ grey-brn hairs, pulp purple. Tangalin, N. 3617 Kauai BISH 2014-01-02
50 Polyscias lallanii Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Degraded Ohia Lowland Mesic Forest. Overstory of Kukui trees in valley bottom, flats adjacent to Koaie Stream Aleurites moluccana, Psidium guajava, Hyptis pectinata, Sida acuta subsp. Carpinifolia, Plumbago zeylanica. Preserved_Specimen One tree, of ten in the planting, approximately 8 meters tall. With both flower and fruit present. Leaves are glabrous, dark green on upper surface, paler below. Rachis and petiole reddish purple. Leaves are thin and papery. Light pubescence on new growth and thicker on flowers and fruit. Williams, A.M. 333 Kauai BISH 2017-01-11
Back to Top