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Dracaena aurea

H.Mann (1867)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Asparagaceae Genus: Dracaena

hala pepe, halapepe, le‘ie [leie]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees 6–12 m tall, usually few–branched.

Stems: Stems unbranched to many-branched, younger ones with conspicuous leaf scars.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, spiral. Blades linear, 50–57 cm long, 1.7–3.4 cm wide, gradually tapering in upper ⅓. Base sessile. Blades subcoriaceous. Margins entire. Veins parallel. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in panicles stout, slightly glaucous, ca. 37–55 cm long, the lower lateral branches (7–)12– 16 cm long, peduncles ca. 16–25 cm long, abruptly recurved. Flowers bisexual (perfect); pedicels 6–11 mm long. Perianth yellow, slightly glaucous, 6, ca. 42–46 mm long, tube ca. 34–37 mm long, constricted basal part ca. 5–6 mm long, lobes slightly spreading, ca. 9–11 mm long; anthers ca. 5 mm long. Stamens 6, inserted at base of perianth tube. Ovary superior, 3-celled; ovules 1 per cell; style filiform; stigma capitate or slightly lobed.

Fruit: Berries red; ca. 12–17 mm long. Seeds 1–3; ca. 6–7 mm long.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Occurring in diverse mesic forest and hala forest.

Elevation Range: 120–1,070 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Endemic
Hawai'i Unknown

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 7: 207 (1867)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1352 (K [as Pleomele aurea]); Lu & Morden 2014:101 (COMBNOV Syn. P. aurea = Chrysodracon aurea); Takawira-Nyenya et al. 2018 (Syn. C. aurea = D. aurea)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Dracaena aurea Waimea District: Nualolo moist south gulch 1 mile inland Preserved_Specimen fl yel. St.John, H. 26699 Kauai BISH 1965-04-24
2 Dracaena aurea Kokee Park, NW Kauai Platydesma, Fagara, etc. Preserved_Specimen fountain shaped tree to 25'; fls glaucous, gn in bud, turning chrome yel at antheses;fr brn at maturity; in complex rather wet Metrosideros polymorpha forest w Tetraplasandra, Acacia kauaiensis, Elaeocarpus bifidus, Pittosporum, Myrsine, Pelea, Carlquist, S. 1960 Kauai BISH 1966-07-10
3 Dracaena aurea Halemanu Cliff lookout, Waimea, Waiahulu Stream Dry open canyon slope. Preserved_Specimen Trees 10 m x 2 dm., leaves recurved and the upper 2/3 pendent; fruit greenish to red brown, 3-4-celled, mostly developing 1(-2) good seeds. St.John, H. 24899 Kauai BISH 1952-12-28
4 Dracaena aurea Waimea District. Waimea Canyon, just east of hunter check-in station. Degraded Acacia-Metrosideros lowland dry to mesic forest dominated by secondary invasive species with Dodonaea viscosa, Leptecophylla tameiameiae, Hibiscus waimeae, Diospyros sandwicensis, Chrysodracon aura (= C. stenophylla), Nestegis sandwicensis, Sida fallax, Dianella sandwicensis, Gahnia beech. Ca. 30+ in area, mapped Preserved_Specimen Tree, 4 meters tall, in early flower, moderately branched, some old infrutescence and old fruit observered, width of leaves less than C. aurea and corresponding more closely to C. stenophylla St. John. Wood, K.R. 16409 Kauai BISH 2015-04-25
5 Dracaena aurea Waimea District. Waimea Canyon, just east of hunter check-in station. Degraded Acacia-Metrosideros lowland dry to mesic forest dominated by secondary invasive species with Dodonaea viscosa, Leptecophylla tameiameiae, Hibiscus waimeae, Diospyros sandwicensis, Chrysodracon aurea (= C. stenophylla), Nestegis sandwicensis, Sida fallax, Dianella sandwicensis, Gahnia beech Preserved_Specimen Tree, 4.5 meters tall, in flower and fruit, moderately branched, width of leaves less than C. aurea and correspodding more closely to C. stenophylla St. John, ca. 30+ in area Wood, K.R. 16410 Kauai BISH 2015-04-25
6 Dracaena aurea peak .5 miles north of Laaukahi, Koloa open woods Preserved_Specimen branchlets 5 cm diam; fruit dark chocolate brown. St.John, H. 22987 Kauai BISH 1947-12-24
7 Dracaena aurea Olokele Ditch Trail, Makawale open lower forest Preserved_Specimen tree 6 m X 4 cm; lvs pendent, fr chocolate brn. St.John, H. 23048 Kauai BISH 1947-12-26
8 Dracaena aurea Waimea District. Kawaiiki, along upper dividing ridge that separates north and south fork. Metrosideros-Acacia mixed mesic forest, summer dry w/ Dubautia laevigata, Kadua affinis, Syzygium sandwicensis, Psychotria mariniana, P. greenwelliae, Ployscias waimeae, P. kavaiensis, Diospyros sandwicensis, Santalum pyrularium, Cheirodendron spp. Di Preserved_Specimen Tree 7 m tall, with fruit brown-red, occasional, narrow-leaf form fitting description of Pleomele stenophylla St. John. Wood, K.R. 16681 Kauai BISH 2015-12-23
9 Dracaena aurea peak .5 miles north of Laaukahi, Koloa open woods Preserved_Specimen branches 5 cm diam; fruit dark chocolate brown. St.John, H. 22987 Kauai BISH 1947-12-24
10 Dracaena aurea Waimea District. Waimea Canyon, just SE of Kukui peak Acacia-Metrosideros lowland dry to mesic forest. W/ Dodonaea, Leptecophylla tameiameiae, Hibiscus waimeae, Diospyros, Pleomele aurea, Pouteria sandwicensis, Sida fallax, Dianella, Gahnia beecheyi, Leptecophylla, Eragrostis variabillis, Pteridium Preserved_Specimen tree, 5 m tall, unusually narrow leaves, with immature and mature fruit Wood, K.R. 15583 Kauai BISH 2013-07-22
11 Dracaena aurea Halemanu Cliff lookout, Waimea, Waiahulu Stream Dry open canyon slope. Preserved_Specimen Trees 10m x 2 dm., leaves recurved and the upper 2/3 pendent; fruit greenishto red brown, 3-4-celled, mostly developing 1 (-2) good seeds. St.John, H. 24899 Kauai BISH 1952-12-28
12 Dracaena aurea Hanapepe River Valley, lower woods lower woods Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13514 Kauai BISH 1933-12-23
13 Dracaena aurea Waimea Canyon State Park; mile 11.3 on Hwy 550 remnant forest on steep, dry slope Preserved_Specimen much branched tree of 18'; corolla bright yel; growing w Acacia and Diospyros. Flynn, T.W. 2209 Kauai BISH 1987-05-21
14 Dracaena aurea Along Waininiua Trail, Kokee State Park mesic forest Preserved_Specimen tree, about 18' tall, 8 DBH, w soft wood & somewhat scaly, gray bark; foliage leathery, light gn. Herbst, D.R. 1065 Kauai BISH 1968-04-18
15 Dracaena aurea Koaie Canyon S facing wall on loose, eroded soil, mesic forest; Metrosideros polymorpha, Nestegis sandwicensis, Diospyros sandwicensis, Lantana camara, Kalanchoe pinnata, Melinis minutiflora Preserved_Specimen 4 m tree; branching; linear leaves spirally arranged at branch tips; fruit deep red when ripe, on robust downward hanging panicles Trauernicht, C. 708 Kauai BISH 2009-02-01
16 Dracaena aurea Kau, Highway 11, near Ocean Veiw Estates, in a kipuka, just makai of road with 1 or 2 others and Diospyros, and Sisal. Aa substrate. In a kipuka just makai of road. Preserved_Specimen Tree large and almost 2 ft dbh. (Not on sheet) Hawaii BISH 1974-07-25
17 Dracaena aurea Waimea District. Kawaiki Ridge, slope above Koaie, west of twin falls. Montane mixed dry to mesic forest, just below Metrosideros-Acacia forest with Diospyros sandwicensis, Chrysodracon cf. stenophylla (=aurea), Myrsine lanaiensis, Plachonella sandwicensis, Cryptocarya mannii, Myoporum sandwicensis, Nestegis sandwicensis, Psydrax odorata, Zant Cf. Chrysodracon stenophylla Preserved_Specimen tree, 4 meters tall, trunk gray brown, well branched, in flower, corolla golden to yellow-green, inflorescence pendent, common Wood, K.R. 16470 Kauai BISH 2015-06-04
18 Dracaena aurea Waimea District. Nuololo, southern branch Metrosideros-Acacia montane mesic forest w/Alphitonia ponderosa, Claoxylon sandwicensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Myrsine lanaiensis, Chrysodracon aurea, Polyscias kavaiensis, Planchonella sandwicensis, Bobea brevipes, Melicope ovata, M. barbiger Preserved_Specimen Tree, 8 m tall, in flower and fruit, inflorescence 55 cm long, corolla golden yellow-green, anthers tan, style yellow-green Wood, K.R. 16456 Kauai BISH 2015-05-30
19 Dracaena aurea Waimea District, Kawaiiki Ridge, slope above Koaie, west of twin falls. Montane mixed dry to mesic forest, just below Metrosideros-Acacia forest w/ Diospyros sandwicensis, Chrysodracon cf. stenophylla (=aurea), Myrsine lanaiensis, Planchonella sandwicensis, Nestegis sandwicensis, Psydrax odorata, Zant Preserved_Specimen Cf. Chrysdracon stenophylla, tree, 7 m tall, trunk gray brown, well branched, in flower, corolla golden to yellow-green, inflorescence pendent, common. Wood, K.R. 16468 Kauai BISH 2015-06-04
20 Dracaena aurea Waimea district. Koaie, dividing ridge between Hipalau and Kawaiiki mixed mesic forest, summer dry, steep slopes and cliff habitat. Diospyros sandwicensis, Acacia koaia, Planchonella sandwicensis, Santalum pyrularium, Dracaena aurea, Myrsine lanaiensis, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Psydras odorata, Hibiscus waimeae, Fluggea neowawraea Preserved_Specimen tree 5m tall, narrow leaves matching Pleomele stenophylla St. John, common n area, SEED COL. NTBG ACC# 130049 Wood, K.R. 15359 Kauai BISH 2013-01-24
21 Dracaena aurea forest ranger station at Kokee Preserved_Specimen tree sometimes branched up to 10 dia at base; lvs confined to apices of branches; fls orange; fr dk purple. Stern, W.L. 1293 Kauai BISH 1961-08-01
22 Dracaena aurea Napali Coast, Hoalulu Stream, thicket on seaward clliff Preserved_Specimen tree 8 m X 2 dm, flw yel, fr chocolate brn. St.John, H. 25546 Kauai BISH 1955-06-18
23 Dracaena aurea Metrosideros-Acacia forest behind Kokee Museum Preserved_Specimen PRC 561 Takeuchi, W.N. 17 Kauai BISH 1983-08-15
24 Dracaena aurea Wainiha Valley, dry lower forest Preserved_Specimen tree 15' tall. St.John, H. 13910 Kauai BISH 1934-01-01
25 Dracaena aurea Hanapepe River Valley, lower woods Preserved_Specimen tree 20' tall. St.John, H. 13514 Kauai BISH 1933-12-23
26 Dracaena aurea Kaholuamanoa; Above Waimea Preserved_Specimen branchlets 5 cm diam; frt dk choc. brn. Heller, A.A. 2362 Kauai BISH 1895-09-01
27 Dracaena aurea ridge behind Kokee Museum Preserved_Specimen from a 6-7 m individual under tall stature Metrosideros-Acacia canopy; sm lf is from the inflorscence; PRC 561 Takeuchi, W.N. 5 Kauai BISH 1983-08-15
28 Dracaena aurea Mts SSW of Moloaa; high above stream on SW side Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 3422 Kauai BISH 1960-04-15
29 Dracaena aurea Haeleele Ridge, Puu Ka Pele Forest Reserve Preserved_Specimen sm tree 25' 5 diam. trunk almost unbranched. Little Jr., E.L. 31157 Kauai BISH 1976-08-31
30 Dracaena aurea Kokee, Mt. Kahili. By Kokee Lodge cabins Preserved_Specimen Large specimen. Herbst, D.R. 2477 Kauai BISH 1972-06-06
31 Dracaena aurea Kekoiki, ridge above Kilauea, windward slope on edge Preserved_Specimen tree. MacDaniels, L.H. 669 Kauai BISH 1927-02-13
32 Dracaena aurea windward Haupu Preserved_Specimen tree 6-7 m tall. Warshauer, F.R. 1199 Kauai BISH 1977-06-05
33 Dracaena aurea Napali Coast, Hoalulu Stream, thicket on seaward clliff Preserved_Specimen tree 8 m X 2 dm, flw yel, fr chocolate brn. St.John, H. 25546 Kauai BISH 1955-06-18
34 Dracaena aurea Napali Coast, Hoalulu Stream, thicket on seaward clliff Preserved_Specimen fl. yel, fr brn. St.John, H. 25546 Kauai BISH 1955-06-18
35 Dracaena aurea Windward Haupu Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 1201 Kauai BISH 1977-06-05
36 Dracaena aurea Koloa Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 362 Kauai BISH 1864-01-01
37 Dracaena aurea Kokee, Waimea, Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10732 Kauai BISH 1930-12-26
38 Dracaena aurea windward Haupu Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 1201 Kauai BISH 1977-06-05
39 Dracaena aurea Hanakapiai, Napali coast Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10931 Kauai BISH 1930-12-31
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