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Melicope degeneri

(B.C.Stone) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone (1989)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Rutaceae Genus: Melicope

alani, alani kuahiwi

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Medium-sized trees typically 4–11 m tall.

Stems: Bark reddish brown, new growth densely yellowish-brown tomentose, young branches tomentose, becoming glabrate with age

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades elliptic-obovate, 6–20.5 cm long, 2–8.5 cm wide Apex rounded and slightly emarginate. Base broadly cuneate to rounded. Upper surfaces glabrate; lower surfaces villous, especially along midrib; blades coriaceous. Margins entire. Primary lateral veins usually 12–15 pairs, inconspicuous, venation pinnate, lateral veins connected by an arched submarginal vein, higher order venation forming a reticulate pattern. Petioles 15–30 mm long, densely short-villous. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers ca. 3 in axillary cymes up to 5.5 cm long, peduncles up to 2 cm long. Pedicels ca. 3 mm long. bracteoles deltate ca. 1mm long; Staminate flowers unknown; Pistillate flowers with a glabrous nectary disk. Calyx of 4 sepals, imbricate. Sepals deltate, 3 mm long, appressed puberulent. Corolla of 4 petals. Petals yellow-green, deltate, 4.5–5 mm long, minutely appressed puberulent, Stamens 8; rudimentary in pistillate flowers. Ovary superior, 4-celled and 4-lobed, carpels connate, only slightly distinct at apex to almost entirely distinct; ovules 2 per cell, hemitropous, 1 ascending; style 1, terminating in 4 short stigmatic branches. Ovary glabrous, ca. 2.0–2.2 mm wide, style slender, ca. 2 mm long, glabrous

Fruit: Capsules cuboid; ca. 7-9 mm long 7-12 mm wide; carpels completely connate; exocarp and endocarp glabrous. Seeds ca. 4.5 mm long. seeds 1–2 per cell; glossy black when ripe; crustaceous; ovoid; sometimes angled from compression; embryo straight in fleshy endosperm; radicle short; cotyledons compressed; ovate; putamen brown; warty.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Wet forests.

Elevation Range: ca. 1,220 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Taxon 38: 122 (1989)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1186 (K [as Pelea degeneri]); Hartley & Stone 1989:122 (COMBNOV, Syn. P. degeneri = M. degeneri)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros 40 - 60% closed w/ 12-15 m tall canopy, understory of Perrottetia, Psychotria spp, Dubautia spp, Labordia spp, Tetraplasandra kavaiensis, T. oahuensis, rich fern and bryophyte understory. Preserved_Specimen Trees, 5 - 9 m tall, 10 - 27 cm diameter @ base, one with frt., collected seed, ca 5 total, observed on both sides of stream. Wood, K.R. 13102 Kauai BISH 2008-06-16
2 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8531 Kauai BISH 1926-06-30
3 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Diranopteris linearis wet forest W/Broussaisia arguta, Cibotium spp., Sadleria cyathiodes, Cyanea fissa, Ilex anomala, Cyanea hirtella, Cheirodendron trigynum, Kubautia knudsenii, Pipturus albidus Preserved_Specimen About 10 trees in area, tree 7 meter ht with fruit, mostly immature Perlman, S. 23969 Kauai BISH 2014-06-04
4 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen A.M. Williams 865 Kauai BISH 2024-04-30
5 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dicranopteris wet forest and deeply carved drainage with riparian vegetation w/ Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, P. hexandra, Coprosma kauaiensis, Syzygium sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Dubautia raillardioides, D. laxa, Meliope wawrana, M. clusiifolia, Myrsine w Preserved_Specimen tree, 8 m tall, well branched, with mature seed, group of 10 trees in immediate area. Wood, K.R. 15984 Kauai BISH 2014-07-02
6 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dicranopteris montane wet forest with Diplopterygium pinnatum, Dryopteris unidentata var. paleacea, Scaevola procera, Pritchardia perlmanii, Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, P. hexandra, Syzygium sandwicensis, Melicope wawrana, Bro Preserved_Specimen Tree, 5 meters tall, along stream with fruit, 2 trees, mapped. Wood, K.R. 17159 Kauai BISH 2016-10-25
7 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dircranopteris wet forest. With Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, Melicope clusiifolia, Ilex anomala, Syzygium sandwicensis, Elaeocarpus bifidus, Dodonaea viscosa, Santalium involutum Preserved_Specimen tree, moderately branched, 5 meter tall, along stream, 2 trees observed in close proximity, mapped. Wood, K.R. 15821 Kauai BISH 2014-02-11
8 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details new ppopulatio of Melicope degeneri Wet/Mesic forest in gulch. Merosideros, Elaeocarpus, Ilex anomola, Melicope clussifolia, Cyanea leptostegia, Diplazium sandwichianum, Cheirodendron trigynum, Broussaisia, Nothocestrum sp., Phylostegia electra, Psychotria hexan. Preserved_Specimen Very large tree, 19 m high, with ca. 30 cm dbh. Some black fungus and scales present on leaves. Edmonds, M. 373 Kauai BISH 2015-09-04
9 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details with Metrosideros, Dicranopteris linearis, Cheirodendron, Perrottetia, Diplazium sandwichianum, Pipturus ruber, Dubautia knudsenii, Broussaisia, Labordia, Delissea rivularis, Psychotria, Cyanea fissa, Trematolobelia, Cibotium; steep slope above stream Preserved_Specimen ~10 trees, with flower and bud Perlman, S. 15123 Kauai BISH 1995-11-11
10 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros transitional mesic to wet forest and riparian vegetation Cheirodendron, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Kadua affinis, Ilex anomala, Syzygium sandwicensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Coprosma waimeae, Crytandra kauaiensis, Melicope clusiifolia, Labordia degeneri, Cyanea f Preserved_Specimen tree, 4 m tall, two main trunks, one 8 cm diameter, other is 12 cm diameter at base, central tree within group of three, mature capsules, 5 trees in immediate area, one juvenile, on bank of stream. Wood, K.R. 15719 Kauai BISH 2013-11-12
11 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros, Cheirodendron, Psychotria hexandra, Broussaisia, Hedyotis terminalis, Machaerina angustifolia, Bidens, Pouteria, Pittosporum, Cibotium, Pipturus, Sadleria, Scaevola procera, Coprosma kauaiensis, Bobea brevipes, Pleomele aurea, Dicranopteris linearis, Melicope anisata, Ilex, Xylosma hawaiiense, Elaeocarpus, Perrottetia, Rubus argutus Preserved_Specimen 20' tree, #9; fruit Perlman, S. 19288 Kauai BISH 2004-08-18
12 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dicranopteris wet forest and deeply carved drainage with riparian vegetation w/ Kadua affinis, K. foggiana, Psychotria mariniana, P. hexandra, Coprosma kauaiensis, Syzygium sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Dubautia raillardioides, D. laxa, Melicope wawrana, M. clusiifol Preserved_Specimen Tree, 4 m tall, w/ flower and fruit, in short side gulch. Wood, K.R. 18868 Kauai BISH 2022-01-14
13 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dicranopteris wet forest and deeply carved drainage with riparian vegetation. w/Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, P. hexandra, Coprosma kauaiensis, Syzygium sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Dubautia raillardioides, D. laxa, Melicope wawrana, M clusiifolia, Myrsine w Preserved_Specimen tree, 3.5 m tall with some fruit, numerous other trees in general area cf M. degeneri (no fruit to positively ID - vegetatively similar to M. puberula). Wood, K.R. 15903 Kauai BISH 2014-03-27
14 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron montane wet forest and riparian habitat with Ilex anomala, Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, P. hexandra, Coprosma kauaiensis, Elaeocarpus bifidus, Syzygium sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Dubauba raillardioides, D. laxa, Melicope Preserved_Specimen Tree, 7.5 meters tall, vigorous, well branched with M. wawraeana, single tree along stream bank, mapped. Wood, K.R. 17112 Kauai BISH 2016-08-17
15 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dicranopteris wet forest, w/ Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, Melicope clusiifolia, Ilex anomala, Syzygium sandwicensis, Elaeocarpus bifidus, Dodonaea viscosa, Santalum involutum Preserved_Specimen tree, 4.5 m tall, in flower, 2 trees in close proximity Wood, K.R. 15822 Kauai BISH 2014-02-11
16 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Dicranopteris montane mesic forest & riparian plant communities w/ Sticherus, Diplazium, Melicope puberula, M. peduncularis, M. clusiifolia, Cheirodendron, Perrottetia. Preserved_Specimen 7 m tall tree w/ 25 cm DBH; branching thick & ascending; dark grey-brown w/ Adenophora & Lellingeria epiphytic; new growth densely yellowish-brown tomentose, leaves shiney dark green on surface, paler below w/ yellow-brown villous nerve. Wood, K.R. 3966 Kauai BISH 1995-01-25
17 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros mixed montane wet forest, 7 m canopy, 90% closed native cover w/ Polyscias waialealae, Syzygium sandwicensis, Cheirodendron spp, Dodonaea viscosa, Santalum pyrularium, Psychotria mariniana, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Labordia degeneri, Melicope clusiifolia, M.a Preserved_Specimen Tree, male, ca. 5 m tall, 17 cm diameter near base, ca. 5 trees in immediate area, both males and females, ca. 10 trees seen in general area and mapped. Wood, K.R. 16318 Kauai BISH 2015-02-17
18 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron mixed wet forest with matting ferns of Diplopterygium, Sticherus, and Dicranopteris w/ Perrottetia sandwicensis, Touchardia latifolia, Psychotria mariniana, P. hexandra, Antidesma platyphylla, Kadua affinis, K. tryblium, Bobea elatior Preserved_Specimen Tree, 5 m tall, in flower and fruit K.R. Wood 19700 Kauai BISH 2025-01-16
19 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Closed Metrosideros forest, 8-12 m canopy. Understory dominated by Antidesma w/ mixed wet associates, Syzygium, Broussaisia, Perrottetia, Cyrtandra spp, Psychotria spp, Dubautia spp., Corprosma waimeae, Cheirodendron spp. Preserved_Specimen Tetraplas tree, 5 m tall, moderately branched, stems brown, lvs drk green with tan-brown scurf on youg lvs, one tree with frt, other vegetrative, 2 trees at this time. Wood, K.R. 13255 Kauai BISH 2008-09-10
20 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Koaie, headwater gulches and streams, well above Koaie river, northwest of Mohihi- Waialae trail Metrosideros transitional mesic to wet forest and reparian vegetation Cheirodendron, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Kadua affinis, Ilex anomala, Syzygium sandwicensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Coprosma waimeae, Cytandra kauaiensis, Melicope clusiifolia, Labordia degeneri, Cyanea f Preserved_Specimen tree, 4 m tall, two main trunks, one 8 cm diameter, other is 12 cm diameter at base, central tree from group of three, having few mature capsules, many immature, 5 trees in immediate area, one juvenile, on bank of stream, potential for more, mapped, SEED COLL. NTBG ACC # 130076 Wood, K.R. 15403 Kauai BISH 2013-02-07
21 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros mixed montane wet forest, with some steep slopes dominated by matting ferns of Dicranopteris, Diplopterygium, or Sticherus with Polyscias waialealae, Syzygium sandwicensis, Cheirodendron spp., Dodonaea viscosa, Santalum pyrularium, Psychotria mariniana, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Labordia degeneri, Melicope clusiifolia, M. an Preserved_Specimen Tree, 8 meters tall, with immatue fruit, 2 trees in immediate area Wood, K.R. 18224 Kauai BISH 2019-06-19
22 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details along river bank. Metrosideros mixed montane wet forest with some steep slopes dominated by matting ferns of Dicranopteris, Diplopterygium, or Sticherus w/ Polyscias waialealae Syzygium sandwicensis, Cheirodendron spp, Dodonaea viscosa,, Santalum pyrularium, Psychotria mariniana Perottetia sandwicensis Labordia degeneri Melicope clusiifolia, M.a Preserved_Specimen Tree, 7 m tall, vegetative single tree Wood, K.R. 16807 Kauai BISH 2016-04-21
23 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In rainforest Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8531 Kauai BISH 1926-06-30
24 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Cheirodendron montane wet fores and riparian habitat with Ilex anomala, Kadua affinis, Psychotria mariniana, Psychotria hexandra, Coprosma kauaiensis, Elaeocarpus bifidus, Syzygium sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Dubautia raillardioides, Dubautia laxa, Dubautia knuds. Preserved_Specimen Tree, 7.5 meters tall, vigorous, well branched with Melicope wawraeana, in flower and fruit, single tree along stream bank, previously mapped. Wood, K.R. 17122 Kauai BISH 2016-09-28
25 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros mixed montane wet forest, 7 m canopy, 90% closed native cover w/ Polyscias waialealae, Syzygium sandwicensis, Cheirodendron spp, Dodonaea viscosa, Santalum pyrularium, Psychotria mariniana, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Labordia degeneri, Melicope clusiifolia, M.a Preserved_Specimen Tree, male, ca. 6 m tall, 17 cm diameter near base, ca. 5 trees in immediate area, both males and females, ca. 10 trees seen in general area and mapped. Wood, K.R. 16317 Kauai BISH 2015-02-17
26 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros, Cheirodendron, Psychotria hexandra, Broussaisia, Hedyotis terminalis, Machaerina angustifolia, Bidens, Pouteria, Pittosporum, Cibotium, Pipturus, Sadleria, Scaevola procera, Coprosma kauaiensis, Bobea brevipes, Pleomele aurea, Dicranopteris linearis, Melicope anisata, Ilex, Xylosma hawaiiense, Elaeocarpus, Perrottetia, Rubus argutus Preserved_Specimen 20' tree, #8; fruit Perlman, S. 19287 Kauai BISH 2004-08-18
27 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Koaie, headwater gulches and streams, well above Koaie river, northwest of Mohihi- Waialae trail Metrosideros transitional mesic to wet forest and reparian vegetation Cheirodendron, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Kadua affinis, Ilex anomala, Syzygium sandwicensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Coprosma waimeae, Cytandra kauaiensis, Melicope clusiifolia, Labordia degeneri, Cyanea f Preserved_Specimen tree, 5 m tall, two main trunks, one 18 cm in diameter, other is 8 cm diameter at base, northern tree from group of three, 5 trees in immediate area, one juvenile, o bank of stream, potantial for more, mapped Wood, K.R. 15404 Kauai BISH 2013-02-07
28 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details ca. 30 trees seen occasionally along stream banks. Metrosideros-Cheirodendron-Dicranopteris wet forest and deeply carved drainage with riparian vegetation with Kadua affinis, K. foggiana, Psychotria marinana, P. hexandra, Coprosma kauaiensis, Syzygium sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicense, Dubautia raillardioides, D. laxa, Melicope wawrana, M. clusiifol Preserved_Specimen Tree, 5 meters tall, moderately branched, in flower and some fruit, Wood, K.R. 18867 Kauai BISH 2022-01-14
29 Melicope degeneri Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details metrosideros mixed montane wet forest w/ Polyscias waialealea, syzygium sandwicensis, cheirodendron spp., dodoneaea viscosa,, santalum pyrularium, psychotria mariniana, perrottetia sandwicensis, melicope clusofolia, M. anisata, shrubs and f Preserved_Specimen tree, tagged #10, 8m tall, with immature fruit, ca 5 trees in immediate area, both males & females, ca. 10 trees seen in general area & mapped Wood, K.R. 16839 Kauai BISH 2016-05-19
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