img

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

img

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

img

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 Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3520 Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
2 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Mitigation Islands Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6048 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
3 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Shack Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6179 Oahu BISH 1978-07-29
4 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Mokauea Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6049 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
5 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Point Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6059 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
6 Neltuma juliflora Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 3522 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 Honolulu. U.S. Exp. Sta Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Oahu BISH 1920-03-01
11 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
12 Neltuma juliflora Keehi Lagoon, Burm Island Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6073 Oahu BISH 1978-04-30
13 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
14 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
15 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
16 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
17 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
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 Honolulu, Kaka'ako waterfront park Very close to ocean. With Naupaka Preserved_Specimen Shrub to 2m Faccenda, K. 2076 Oahu BISH 2021-08-07
20 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
21 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
22 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
23 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
24 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
25 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
26 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
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. 3407 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
Back to Top