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Conocarpus erectus

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Myrtales Family: Combretaceae Genus: Conocarpus

button mangrove, buttonwood, sea mulberry

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs or trees 3–8 m tall.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, leaves chartaceous or somewhat coriaceous and somewhat fleshy, 2.5–9 cm long, 1–3 cm wide. Base with raised basal glands. Surfaces ± densely silky pubescent, especially on midrib or younger leaves. Margins entire. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers small, densely clustered in globose heads arranged in terminal panicles or racemes, bracts ovate, hypanthium campanulate, the lower part laterally flattened, Peduncles 2–10(–15) mm long, bracts minute, tomentose; hypanthium tomentose. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx 5-lobed, Calyx lobes greenish white, triangular, ca. 1 mm long. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens usually 10. Ovary inferior, clearly flattened; style straight to slightly curved, free from hypanthium, with well-developed pistillode; ovules 2.

Fruit: Fruit densely clustered into brownish subglobose heads 1–1.5 cm long; each one 3–3.5 mm long; recurved at apex and often with the persistent calyx; fruit scale-like; coriaceous; obcordate; laterally compressed and 2–winged. Seeds 1 per fruit; endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 24

Habitat: Naturalized in coastal areas.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) Only found in cultivation
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 147 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:547 (O, L, M); Lorence & Flynn 1997:10 (K); Staples & Herbst 2005:239 (KEY), 242 (DESCR); Parker & Parsons 2012a:58 (H); Starr & Starr 2020:27 (Mo)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Conocarpus erectus Heeia State Park, Kaneohe, Oahu Growing on sandy bank along Heeia Stream near mouth to ocean, flooded tidally with brackish to salt water. Preserved_Specimen Small tree to 10 ft tall, light greeen, silvery leaves, pom-pom flowers. Crago, L.M. 2005060 Oahu BISH 2005-02-11
2 Conocarpus erectus Koloa District: Kukuiula small boat harbor in the Kukuiula Bay; coastal vegetation on lava flow, idigenous and naturalized species, elevation just about sea level Preserved_Specimen Shrub or small tree 1-3 m wiht dense, spreading branches, leaves fleshy, light green. Flower heads purplish with cream stamens, sweetly fagrant (5 pm); fruits pinkish-green Lorence, D.H. 7767 Kauai BISH 1996-04-18
3 Conocarpus erectus Kailua-Kona, Old Kona Airport HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 12/23/2017
4 Conocarpus erectus Koloa District, Poipu. From the grounds of the Hyatt Hotel Preserved_Specimen Tree pruned to 7 ft.; leaves silvery green; flower buds brownish; open flowers with white stamens. Fragrant (1.30 pm). Flynn, T.W. 6794 Kauai BISH 2001-03-20
5 Conocarpus erectus Mokuoeo Island in Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Two plants, one about 6' tall and the other about 3' tall. Walker, R. Oahu BISH 1978-04-21
6 Conocarpus erectus Kukuiula Boat Harbor Park Preserved_Specimen Spreading shrub 10' x 15'. Buds purplish brown. Stamens white, anthers pale yellow. Flynn, T.W. 1898 Kauai BISH 1986-09-08
7 Conocarpus erectus Koloa district. Lawai Valley. Cultivated the National Tropical Botanical Garden Preserved_Specimen Sprawling tree of 20 ft. Leaves dark glossy green above with whitish-green midrib, below same. Rachis white, fruit with reddish tint. Flynn, T.W. 3300 Kauai BISH 1989-03-28
8 Conocarpus erectus Foster Botanic Garden Preserved_Specimen A multi-trunked tree; spreading; 6 m tall and twice as wide; in full sun. The flowers have a slight unpleasant odor. Lau, J. 1505 Oahu BISH 1985-08-08
9 Conocarpus erectus Kailua-Kona, Old Kona Airport HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 12/23/2017
10 Conocarpus erectus Fleming Beach, Kapalua, West Preserved_Specimen Tree 18' with flat spreading crown and deeply furrowed trunk, Flowers disagreeably pungent Nagata, K.M. 1019 Maui BISH 1972-05-28
11 Conocarpus erectus Kukuihoolua Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-08-01
12 Conocarpus erectus Popoia Islet, Oahu. S side Preserved_Specimen Rare. One plant on south side of island that was pulled. Starr, F. 5022310 Oahu BISH 2005-02-23
13 Conocarpus erectus Mokuoeo Island in Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Two plants, one about 6' tall and the other about 3' tall. Walker, R. Oahu BISH 1978-04-21
14 Conocarpus erectus Oahu Preserved_Specimen Referred to as sea mulberry. Tree 40 ft high; plus flowers. Midkiff, F. Oahu BISH 1959-07-05
15 Conocarpus erectus Motor Island, Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Low spreading tree, crwon rounded, nearly touching grounds, lvs silvery silky-hairy. Asquith, A. Oahu BISH 1994-05-26
16 Conocarpus erectus his Mokuleia beach garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 33446 Oahu BISH 1974-06-01
17 Conocarpus erectus Hickam Field, residence of H.P.Spenser Preserved_Specimen small tree, 4-5 m Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1938-05-15
18 Conocarpus erectus his Mokuleia beach garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 35791 Oahu BISH 1982-01-01
19 Conocarpus erectus Kailua-Kona, Old Kona Airport HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 12/23/2017
20 Conocarpus erectus Burm Island, Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6069 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
21 Conocarpus erectus his Mokuleia beach garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 35669 Oahu BISH 1982-11-01
22 Conocarpus erectus Mokuoea Island, Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6052 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
23 Conocarpus erectus his Mokuleia beach garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 35791 Oahu BISH 1982-11-01
24 Conocarpus erectus Mitigation Islands, Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6046 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
25 Conocarpus erectus Coconut Island, Keehi Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6155 Oahu BISH 1978-07-29
26 Conocarpus erectus Mokuleia, his beach garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 25669 Hawaii BISH 1982-08-01
27 Conocarpus erectus Planted at Mokuleia Beach, Waialua, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30092 Oahu BISH 1965-07-15
28 Conocarpus erectus Kukuihoolua Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-08-01
29 Conocarpus erectus Pukoo Lagoon. Growing at high water mark. Bushes and seedlings along high water mark. Naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Coastal strand with Cauarina equisetifolia and Cocos nucifera Dibben-Young, A. 19090301 Molokai BISH 2019-09-03
30 Conocarpus erectus Kukuihoolua Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-08-01
31 Conocarpus erectus Tern Islet Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1216 French Frigate Shoals BISH 1968-08-31
32 Conocarpus erectus Mokuleia Beach garden, Oahu In Degener's garden. Preserved_Specimen exotic tree. Similar to Quercus alba. Degener, O. 35669 Oahu BISH 1982-08-01
33 Conocarpus erectus Pukoo Lagoon. Growing at high water mark. Bushes and seedlings along high water mark. Naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Coastal strand with Cauarina equisetifolia and Cocos nucifera Dibben-Young, A. 19090301 Molokai BISH 2019-09-03
34 Conocarpus erectus Awehi and Keomuku Roads, along coastal road between Awehi & Keomuku Rds. just inland of Rhizophora mangle Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 7077 Lanai BISH 1986-07-19
35 Conocarpus erectus Pukoo Lagoon. Growing at high water mark. Bushes and seedlings along high water mark. Naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Coastal strand with Cauarina equisetifolia and Cocos nucifera Dibben-Young, A. 19090301 Molokai BISH 2019-09-03
36 Conocarpus erectus Coconut Island Along the coast. Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 62 Hawaii BISH 1988-11-11
37 Conocarpus erectus Kaiwi Shoreline Trail, SE/Makai side of trail On the edge of grassland (dominated by grasses, Leucaena leucocephala, with occasional overhead cover of Prosopis sp.) and a thin band of coastal mangrove forest (primarily dense stands of Rhizophora and occasional thick mats of Batis maritima). Preserved_Specimen Small tree (3 m) mostly upright being toppled by Batis. Velvety silver coating on pale green leaves, no odor when broken. Midrib on adaxial side matches the blade in color. Midrib yellowish on abaxil side. Light yellow stamens on globose flowers/fruits. Fruit rusty/reddish brown, scabrous. Bark on trunk mostly gray, younger branches have streaks of pale reddish brown. 5 individual trees noticed, all about the same size. Walvoord, N. 2020002 Oahu BISH 2020-10-17
38 Conocarpus erectus Mokuleia Beach, Waialua, Oahu Planted in collector's garden. Preserved_Specimen Seed of this cauescent var. brought by collector from Nassau, B.W.I. Degener, O. 24076 Oahu BISH 1956-01-09
39 Conocarpus erectus Pukoo A few trees behind small beach in disturbed Scaevola Coastal Shrubland Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 82404 Molokai BISH 2024-08-11
40 Conocarpus erectus NW Lanai, along Hwy. 44, Near beach. Near beach, in Kaiwi thicket Preserved_Specimen Tree 3 m; dbh 4; leaves alternate; oval; tomentose; petiole with two glands. Flowers green in globose heads. Fruit a cone-like structure Spence, G. 352 Lanai BISH 1973-10-23
41 Conocarpus erectus Wailuku near the sea as windbreak Preserved_Specimen Yamayoshi, G. Maui BISH 1935-02-02
42 Conocarpus erectus Mokuleia, Oahu, T.H Planted for ornament near beach. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11894 Oahu BISH 1935-06-12
43 Conocarpus erectus Four-mile beach, Keaukaha, South Hilo Distr Naturalized. Located adjacent to the shoreline. Growing next to Casuarina trees. Preserved_Specimen No frts or fls. Collection made is a resprout, 1.5 m tall, from a trunk that is 8 centimeters in diameter. Friday, N. 92 Hawaii BISH 2009-07-05
44 Conocarpus erectus Pukoo Lagoon. Growing at high water mark. Bushes and seedlings along high water mark. Naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Coastal strand with Cauarina equisetifolia and Cocos nucifera Dibben-Young, A. 19090301 Molokai BISH 2019-09-03
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