img

Morella faya

(Aiton) Wilbur (1994)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fagales Family: Myricaceae Genus: Morella

faya, faya tree, firetree

img

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Evergreen shrubs or small trees up to 8 m tall.

Stems: Branches with reddish peltate hairs.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades oblanceolate, 4–11 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide. Apex rounded to acute. Surfaces glabrous, glandular dots inconspicuous; blades coriaceous, aromatic when crushed. Margins somewhat revolute, remotely serrulate or serrate in upper ½. Pinnately veined. Short-petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers usually in branched catkins borne among leaves of the current year's growth, each pistillate flower subtended by a primary bract. Flowers unisexual, perianth absent. Calyx (sepals) absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens (2–)4(–10), progressively fewer toward apex of inflorescence; anthers extrorse, dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits, nectary disk present at base of stamens. Ovary superior (pistillate flower), 2-carpellate, 1-celled; ovule 1, basal, erect, orthotropous; style 2-lobed. Rudimentary ovary occasionally present in staminate flowers.

Fruit: Fruit drupaceous; dark red or blackish when mature; slightly fleshy. Seeds with little or no endosperm; embryo straight; with 2 plano-convex cotyledons.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Mesic to wet forest.

Elevation Range: 150–1,310 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

img

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sida 16: 103 (1994)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:931 (K, O, L, M, H [as Myrica faya]); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:9 (WM); Wilbur 1994:103/Staples et al. 2002:13 (Syn. Myrica faya = Morella faya)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Morella faya Waianae range, at the beginning of Palikea Trail Preserved_Specimen Herat, T. 404 Oahu BISH 1973-07-08
2 Morella faya Hamakua Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. 67 Hawaii BISH 1927-10-31
3 Morella faya East Maui, Haleakala national park inside the Crater west rim, third gulch south of old switchbacks Preserved_Specimen Torigoe, S. 170 Maui BISH 2016-01-29
4 Morella faya Kukaiau, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. Hawaii BISH 1929-04-12
5 Morella faya Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Cooke, D. Maui BISH 1929-09-23
6 Morella faya Waianae Mts., Pohakea Pass Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1955-01-10
7 Morella faya East Maui, Haleakala Preserved_Specimen Cooke, D. Maui BISH 1929-09-23
8 Morella faya Waianae Mountains, Pohakea Pass, Halona Valley Sprouts from tree trunk (host to 6 native insects). Preserved_Specimen Tree 1 & 1/2 ft diam.; Male flowers only. Ford Oahu BISH 1957-06-15
9 Morella faya Kukaiau Ranch Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. Hawaii BISH 1949-03-22
10 Morella faya Kula Preserved_Specimen Willey, H.F. Maui BISH 1936-04-14
11 Morella faya Lanaihale Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 964 Lanai BISH 1965-02-17
12 Morella faya Kokee, Kanalo Huluhulu Ranger Station Moist open valley bottom. Preserved_Specimen Dense bush 1.5 m. tall, dark green, sterile. Fosberg, F.R. 12746 Kauai BISH 1936-01-01
13 Morella faya east Maui, Hana District, Kahikinui, upper Kepuni drainage basin. Vegetation: Acacia/Metrosideros Montane Mesic Forest w/ Dodonaea, Leptecophyllla, Ilex, Myrsine, Sophora, Coprosma, Dubautia, Pipturus, Melicope, Diplazium, Microlepia, Lobelia, Dryopteris, Peperomia, Coniogramme, Pteris, Ageratina, Holcus, Anthoxanthum, Pennisetum, Cirsium, Prunella, Geranium, Lapsana, Rubus, Bocconia. Preserved_Specimen Single large tree, apparently male, observed on open ridgetop. Oppenheimer, H.L. 91312 Maui BISH 2013-09-17
14 Morella faya Kokee Abundant. Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 892 Kauai BISH 1963-03-09
15 Morella faya Waianae Mts., E side, Puu Kanehoa trail In Melinis-Grevillea open flatlands (lower zones). Preserved_Specimen Weedy bush/small tree. Stone, B.C. 3433 Oahu BISH 1960-04-30
16 Morella faya Waianae Mountains., ridge between Mauna Kapu and Puu Palikea around hut on moist ridge partly bare, partly brushy forest Preserved_Specimen 8 m tree, 15 cm in diam.; practically odorless; ripe fruit red Fosberg, F.R. 29498 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
17 Morella faya Waimea District. Kokee State Park, Awaawapuhi Trail head and parking area. Metrosideros/Acacia foret with Psychotria, Hedychium, Dodonaea, Coprosma Preserved_Specimen Tree of 40 feet; leaves dark glossy green above with slightly impressed mid and 2 veins, below glossy medium green with whitish green midrib; fruit green with crystalline appearance. Flynn, T.W. 9610 Kauai BISH 2022-06-25
18 Morella faya Waimea Canyon; ca. 1 mile E. of Kokee Ranger Station and Museum on road to MIlolii area With Santalum, Pouteria, Psychotria, Coprosma, etc. Preserved_Specimen Tree 25 ft. tall; bark dark grey. Henrickson, J.S. 4048 Kauai BISH 1969-08-01
19 Morella faya Waianae Mountains, Pohakea Pass, Halona Valley dry ridge Preserved_Specimen 6 m brushy tree; fruits red, fleshy Fosberg, F.R. 13090 Oahu BISH 1936-05-03
20 Morella faya Kokee Volunteer along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Small shrubby tree with dark green, glossy foliage.` Herbst, D.R. 1077 Kauai BISH 1968-04-24
21 Morella faya East Maui, Crater Rd Scattered individuals on side of residential roadside. Associated vegetation: Lonicera japonica, Rubus spp. Preserved_Specimen Tree 3-4m ht; fruit purple, round. Starr, F. 209112 Maui BISH 2002-09-11
22 Morella faya Honouliuli Forest Reserve, Waianae Mountains. At beginning of Palikea Trail Associated with Metrosideros-Eugenia ridge type vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Leaves opposite; entire; elliptic-oblong; light green top and bottom. Inflorescence a penicle. Fruits a red drupe. Spence, G. 63 Oahu BISH 1972-09-07
23 Morella faya Kokee Volunteer along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Small shrubby tree with dark green, glossy foliage.` Herbst, D.R. 1077 Kauai BISH 1968-04-24
24 Morella faya Waianae Range, Maunauna Mountain, SE slope In guava shrubbery. Preserved_Specimen Tree c. 10 m. Bark light brownish grey, underbark light green. Wood light brown. Leaves dark grey above, greyish green below. Flowers light yellowish green. van Royen, P. 10128 Oahu BISH 1967-07-04
25 Morella faya Along Stainback Highway about 2 mi above junction with Volcano Highway Occasional along disturbed roadways. Preserved_Specimen Small, much-branched tree. Herbst, D.R. 4063 Hawaii BISH 1974-08-12
26 Morella faya Waimea Canyon, 2 miles east of Kokee Ranger Station, along road to Mochihi, at first stream crossing Clay soil. Preserved_Specimen Dreyer, D. 212 Kauai BISH 1971-08-08
27 Morella faya Keauhou Ranch, Kau district In Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Small shrubs, 3-5 ft. tall. Wagner, W.L. 4856 Hawaii BISH 1983-07-26
28 Morella faya Waianae Mountains., ridge between Mauna Kapu and Puu Palikea around hut on moist ridge partly bare, partly brushy forest Preserved_Specimen 8 m tree, 15 cm in diam.; practically odorless; ripe fruit red Fosberg, F.R. 29498 Oahu BISH 1948-02-04
29 Morella faya Hamakua district India, Malaya, Japan, China. Preserved_Specimen Fruit: red. Judd, C.S. 41 Hawaii BISH 1926-07-02
30 Morella faya Waiakeakua, N slope Dry, steep slope. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28596 Lanai BISH 1963-09-06
31 Morella faya Kula, along Highway 377 Volunteer along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Small, shrubby tree about 15 ft. tall with dark green, glossy foliage and red fruit. Herbst, D.R. 792 Maui BISH 1967-12-17
32 Morella faya 27 miles, Volcano Open Dicranopteris-Metrosideros-Scaevola-Machaerina forest. Preserved_Specimen Male. Degener, O. 34129 Hawaii BISH 1976-04-13
33 Morella faya Waimea District; Kokii State Park, at turnoff from Highway 550 to Methodist Camp (13.3 miles N. of Waimea); Kopakapa Ridge, from irrigation ditch trail; eucalyptus plantings and koa forest Locally common, forming dense stands, naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Small tree reaching 4-5 m. tall and 10 cm. dbh. Ripe fruit dark purple, fleshy. Lorence, D.H. 5588 Kauai BISH 1987-10-04
34 Morella faya Koolau Mts., Palolo-Waialae Ridge bare ridge Preserved_Specimen 2m shrub; sterile Fosberg, F.R. 13132 Oahu BISH 1936-05-24
35 Morella faya Waianae Mountains, E and NE (windward) slope of Puu Kanehoa Mesic forest in valleys and lower slopes (Aleurites moluccana, Cordyline terminalis, abundant Passiflora spp. (intr.), Smilax sandwicensis); 1 mile NNW to 1.2 mi. W. of Kunia Camp; SEE COMMENTS FOR MORE: Preserved_Specimen 3-5 m. tall, second growth, base of mountain slope. van Royen, P. 260 Oahu BISH 1967-07-04
36 Morella faya Northern Koolau Mountains, on ridge dividing Kea'aulu and Ohi'a'ai gulches. UTM 605207, 2394409. Mixed native/non-native forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree. Kawelo, K. 346 Oahu BISH 2014-04-10
37 Morella faya W Maui, Lahaina District, West Maui Natural Area Reserve, Panaewa section, mauka of Paupau, near S rim of Kanaha Valley In Metrosideros shrubland. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 69802 Maui BISH 1998-06-28
38 Morella faya Keauhou Ranch, Kau District Growing on eroding hillside and adjoining pasture with Buddleja asiatica. Preserved_Specimen Small shrubs, 3-5 ft. tall. Davis, J. 310 Hawaii BISH 1980-05-20
39 Morella faya Mauna Ulu parking lot off chain of craters road Preserved_Specimen Tree ca. 10m tall; tips of new stems rusty brown; leaves simple w. yellow variegations near margins; midvein conspicuously light yellow-green; fruits green ripening to red, then black to very dark purple. Pell, S.K. 826 Hawaii BISH 2008-08-07
40 Morella faya East Maui, Polipoli Scattered in disturbed shrubland/pasture. Associated vegetation: Pinus sp., Pennisetum clandestinum. Preserved_Specimen Tree 3-4m ht; fruit purple, round. Starr, F. 209111 Maui BISH 2002-09-11
41 Morella faya Keauhou Ranch, Kau District Growing on eroding hillside and adjoining pasture with Buddleja asiatica. Preserved_Specimen Small shrubs, 3-5 feet tall. Davis, J. 310 Hawaii BISH 1980-05-20
42 Morella faya Kukaiau Ranch Overrunning pastures. Preserved_Specimen Krauss, F.G. Hawaii BISH 1936-04-28
43 Morella faya Lanaihale, near top Preserved_Specimen Tree 3 m. tall; much branching at base; stunted ohia rain forest. Leaves opposite, ellliptic-oblong. Inflorescencce a panicle in axils. F Fruits a red drupe. Spence, G. 326 Lanai BISH 1973-10-20
44 Morella faya 10 miles S.E. of Pukalani Preserved_Specimen Small tree, 15 ft. in height, 1 & 1/2 inch diam. introduced. Little Jr., E.L. 31093 Maui BISH 1976-08-24
45 Morella faya Palikea Trail Preserved_Specimen Abundant woody shrub. (Not on sheet) 13 Oahu BISH 1963-10-12
46 Morella faya Waianae Mountains, Palikea Trail Preserved_Specimen ~15' tree, shrubby. Dioicious. Female flowers green, becoming red in fruit. Male flowers yellowish Crosby, M.R. 1924 Oahu BISH 1964-07-31
47 Morella faya Lanaihale peak Preserved_Specimen Small tree 15 ft., 5 in diam., naturalized Little Jr., E.L. 31241 Lanai BISH 1976-09-17
48 Morella faya Hamakua Preserved_Specimen Fruit red to nearly black when ripe, up to 9 mm sub-spherical diameter Bryan, L.W. 67 Hawaii BISH 1927-10-31
49 Morella faya Hauula, Waipilopilo Preserved_Specimen weed Degener, O. 27756 Oahu BISH 1940-06-11
50 Morella faya Honolulu, Waahila Ridge Trail Preserved_Specimen Female flws joined in three & w/bract. Male flws 4 stamens apiece. Welton, P. 51 Oahu BISH 1988-11-04
51 Morella faya Hamakua Preserved_Specimen Judd, C.S. 67 Hawaii BISH 1927-10-31
52 Morella faya Waianae Mountains, Honouliuli Forest Reserve, Palehua-Palikea Trail Preserved_Specimen Sohmer, S.H. 6171 Oahu BISH 1969-10-25
53 Morella faya 27 miles, Volcano Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 33795 Hawaii BISH 1976-04-14
54 Morella faya Waimea, Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve, dMalua Popoki trail Preserved_Specimen Chock, A.K. 894 Kauai BISH 1953-08-10
55 Morella faya Paauilo Preserved_Specimen Ignacio, J.J. 57 Hawaii BISH 1929-05-02
56 Morella faya Waianae Range, along the crest trail from Mauna Kapu to Mount Pakikea. 1/2 km from Mauna Kapu Preserved_Specimen Hutchison, P.C. 2820 Oahu BISH 1965-05-16
Back to Top