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Persea americana

Mill. (1768)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Magnoliids Order: Laurales Family: Lauraceae Genus: Persea

alligator pear, avocado

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees.

Stems: Young branches terete (cylindrical), glabrate, often with conspicuous leaf scars.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades variable in shape and size, but usually elliptic, 10–25 cm long, 5–10 cm wide. Surfaces dark green on upper surface; lower surfaces pale green. Margins entire. Pinnately veined. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in pubescent inflorescences shorter than leaves, clustered at the tips of the branches or on short, lateral young branches. Flowers bisexual (perfect), small, usually aromatic, actinomorphic. Tepals 6, equal, usually arranged in whorls of 3, ca. 5 mm long, densely pubescent, usually white, greenish white, or yellow, rarely reddish, deciduous or persistent in fruit. Fertile stamens 9, staminodia present; filaments of Stamens of third whorl often with 2 talked or sessile glands at base; anthers tetrathecal, opening by valves or small pores.

Fruit: Fruit large; pear–shaped; up to 10 cm or more long; not subtended by persistent tepals; cupule absent. Seeds without endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 24; 36; 48

Habitat: Naturalized in disturbed mesic areas.

Elevation Range: 10–600 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (35)

Laurus indica Sieber ex Nees (1836)
Laurus persea L. (1753)
Persea americana var. angustifolia Miranda (1946)
Persea americana var. aztec Popenoe (1950)
Persea americana var. drimyfolia (Cham. & Schltdl.) S.F.Blake (1920)
Persea americana var. floccosa (Mez) Scora (2002)
Persea americana var. guatemalensis (L.O.Williams) Scora (2002)
Persea americana var. leiogyna (S.F.Blake) H.P.Kelsey & Dayton (1942)
Persea americana var. nubigena (L.O.Williams) L.E.Kopp (1966)
Persea americana var. steyermarkii (C.K.Allen) Scora (2002)
Persea americana var. tolimanensis (Zentmyer & Schieber) Scora (2002)
Persea americana var. toltec Popenoe (1951)
Persea americana var. zentmyeri (Schieber & B.Bergh) Scora (2002)
Persea drimyfolia Schltdl. & Cham. (1831)
Persea edulis Raf. (1838)
Persea floccosa Mez (1889)
Persea gigantea L.O.Williams (1953)
Persea gratissima C.F.Gaertn. (1807)
Persea gratissima var. drimyfolia (Cham. & Schltdl.) Mez (1889)
Persea gratissima var. macrophylla Meisn. (1864)
Persea gratissima var. melanocarpa Phil. (1895)
Persea gratissima var. oblonga Meisn. (1864)
Persea gratissima var. praecox Nees (1836)
Persea gratissima var. vulgaris Meisn. (1864)
Persea leiogyna S.F.Blake (1920)
Persea macrocarpa Raf. (1808)
Persea nubigena L.O.Williams (1950)
Persea nubigena var. guatemalensis L.O.Williams (1977)
Persea paucitriplinervia Lundell (1975)
Persea persea (L.) Cockerell (1892)
Persea praecox Poepp. ex Nees (1836)
Persea steyermarkii C.K.Allen (1945)
Persea sylvestris A.Rich. (1850)
Persea tolimanensis Zentmyer & Schieber (1990)
Persea zentmyeri Schieber & B.Bergh (1987)

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

Other Animals

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Gard. Dict. ed. 8: s.p. (1768)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:847 (K, O, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:368 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2010:36 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Persea americana Woods on ridge north of Kuapa Pond Preserved_Specimen Gillespie, J.W. 1111 Oahu BISH 1927-07-08
2 Persea americana Waiahole Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1300 Oahu BISH 1909-01-23
3 Persea americana Honolulu, Univ. of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620214300 Oahu BISH 1962-02-14
4 Persea americana Tantalus, U.S.Experiment Station Preserved_Specimen MacDaniels, L.H. 369 Oahu BISH 1927-01-24
5 Persea americana Honolulu; planted at 2220 University Avenue Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5574 Oahu BISH 1932-01-01
6 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The avacado trees are common along the road side and along the dirt roads in the area. The avocado trees form groves and are in areas the dominant canopy species. The soil is `a`a with a thin layer of organic material. Preserved_Specimen Trees are up to 40 ft. in height. Yoshida, L. 79.032 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-22
7 Persea americana 4 miles S of turn to Hookalu Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Maui BISH 1954-12-23
8 Persea americana Keanakakoi former dump area. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 ft. high; no flowers or fruit. Fagerlund, G.O. 445 Maui BISH 1943-03-09
9 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau district, beside Puu oo road Growing beside a road in Pennisetum (kikuyu grass)- Axonopus- Hypochoeris pasture with scattered Metrosideros on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Tree 15 ft. ht. No flowers, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 122 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-10
10 Persea americana Gulch behind Fort Shafter Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2569 Oahu BISH 1919-05-05
11 Persea americana Kau District; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kipuka Puaulu In Metrosideros-Acacia koa-Sapindus saponaria mesic forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree ca. 60 ft. tall. Sterile. Cuddihy, L.W. 2082 Hawaii BISH 1987-09-28
12 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, beside Puu oo road Pennisetum (kikuyu) - Axonopus - Hypochoeris pasture with scattered Metrosideros on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Tree, 15' height. No flowers, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 122 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-10
13 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Growing on the side of the road. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 8 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-07
14 Persea americana near L.D.S.Church, Waialua Slope 5 º; silty loam soil. Preserved_Specimen Common fruit tree. Tree to 20 ft. tall; small blossoms in panicles, 6 inch fruit. Afualo, D. 65 Oahu BISH 1975-03-16
15 Persea americana Hanalei District. Kalalau Trail, c 2.75 miles from Kee Beach Along trail; with Cordyline and Sadleria. Preserved_Specimen Tree of 18 ft. Flynn, T.W. 2091 Kauai BISH 1987-02-11
16 Persea americana Waimea District. Contour road running N-S between Polihale and Kaaweki Ridges Mixed mesophytic forest of Acacia koa with forestry plantings. Preserved_Specimen Tree 10 m. tall, young fruit green. Planted, regenerating and naturalized locally. Lorence, D.H. 5268 Kauai BISH 1987-06-09
17 Persea americana Honolulu, Punahou area, the residence of Joel Lau Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 2132 Oahu BISH 1986-03-13
18 Persea americana Maunalei Gulch, gulch bottom upstream of old pump station, Aleurites forest Preserved_Specimen trees Oppenheimer, H.L. 50809 Lanai BISH 2008-05-29
19 Persea americana Honolulu, Tantalus Round Top Dr roadside; disturbed mesic forest Preserved_Specimen tree; flowers in pubescent panicles Ray, G. 78 Oahu BISH 1998-02-01
20 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The avacado trees are common along the road side and along the dirt roads in the area. The avocado trees form groves and are in areas the dominant canopy species. The soil is `a`a with a thin layer of organic material. Preserved_Specimen Trees are up to 40 ft. in height. Yoshida, L. 79.032 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-22
21 Persea americana Kaimuki Slope 25-30%; soil = clay-loam. Preserved_Specimen Ornamental tree; rare; flowers very small, leaves broad. Kamae, K.K. 13 Oahu BISH 1967-03-04
22 Persea americana Koloa, Kalahao, yard at 3581 Kaloke Road Preserved_Specimen 7 m x 40 cm tree; bark gray, fissured; old leaves medium green, purplish mottling below; fruit ovoid, skin rough, green ripening purple, flesh light green, yellow around single seed Lorence, D.H. 9535 Kauai BISH 2006-12-28
23 Persea americana Kihei, HI 96753, USA UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria Vladimir J. Krajina V180259 kahoolawe HAPI 2/10/1962
24 Persea americana Lyon Arboretum; ML Makai Preserved_Specimen Tree, 30 ft. high, dbh 1.5 ft. Hirano, R. 11 Oahu BISH 1969-01-01
25 Persea americana Honolulu, University Avenue; Garden of D.L. Crawford Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m. tall; old leaves only on north side of tree. Fosberg, F.R. 10589 Oahu BISH 1934-01-24
26 Persea americana Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620210410 Oahu BISH 1962-02-10
27 Persea americana Wailuku District, W Maui Forest Reserve, Iao Valley, above lookout and parking lot along Iao Stream Preserved_Specimen Trees c 10 m. tall; corolla cream. Wagner, W.L. 5832 Maui BISH 1988-03-06
28 Persea americana Koloa, Kalahao, yard at 3581 Kaloke Road UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria Vladimir J. Krajina V180706 Kauai HAPI 2/14/1962
29 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau district, beside Puu oo road Disturbed mesic forest, roadside UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International G. J. Ray Hawaii HAPI 2/1/1998
30 Persea americana Woods on ridge north of Kuapa Pond Preserved_Specimen Gillespie, J.W. 1111 Oahu BISH 1927-07-08
31 Persea americana Waiahole Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1300 Oahu BISH 1909-01-23
32 Persea americana Honolulu, Univ. of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620214300 Oahu BISH 1962-02-14
33 Persea americana Tantalus, U.S.Experiment Station Preserved_Specimen MacDaniels, L.H. 369 Oahu BISH 1927-01-24
34 Persea americana Honolulu; planted at 2220 University Avenue Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5574 Oahu BISH 1932-01-01
35 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The avacado trees are common along the road side and along the dirt roads in the area. The avocado trees form groves and are in areas the dominant canopy species. The soil is `a`a with a thin layer of organic material. Preserved_Specimen Trees are up to 40 ft. in height. Yoshida, L. 79.032 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-22
36 Persea americana 4 miles S of turn to Hookalu Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Maui BISH 1954-12-23
37 Persea americana Keanakakoi former dump area. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 ft. high; no flowers or fruit. Fagerlund, G.O. 445 Maui BISH 1943-03-09
38 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau district, beside Puu oo road Growing beside a road in Pennisetum (kikuyu grass)- Axonopus- Hypochoeris pasture with scattered Metrosideros on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Tree 15 ft. ht. No flowers, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 122 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-10
39 Persea americana Gulch behind Fort Shafter Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2569 Oahu BISH 1919-05-05
40 Persea americana Kau District; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kipuka Puaulu In Metrosideros-Acacia koa-Sapindus saponaria mesic forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree ca. 60 ft. tall. Sterile. Cuddihy, L.W. 2082 Hawaii BISH 1987-09-28
41 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, beside Puu oo road Pennisetum (kikuyu) - Axonopus - Hypochoeris pasture with scattered Metrosideros on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Tree, 15' height. No flowers, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 122 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-10
42 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Growing on the side of the road. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 8 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-07
43 Persea americana near L.D.S.Church, Waialua Slope 5 º; silty loam soil. Preserved_Specimen Common fruit tree. Tree to 20 ft. tall; small blossoms in panicles, 6 inch fruit. Afualo, D. 65 Oahu BISH 1975-03-16
44 Persea americana Hanalei District. Kalalau Trail, c 2.75 miles from Kee Beach Along trail; with Cordyline and Sadleria. Preserved_Specimen Tree of 18 ft. Flynn, T.W. 2091 Kauai BISH 1987-02-11
45 Persea americana Waimea District. Contour road running N-S between Polihale and Kaaweki Ridges Mixed mesophytic forest of Acacia koa with forestry plantings. Preserved_Specimen Tree 10 m. tall, young fruit green. Planted, regenerating and naturalized locally. Lorence, D.H. 5268 Kauai BISH 1987-06-09
46 Persea americana Honolulu, Punahou area, the residence of Joel Lau Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 2132 Oahu BISH 1986-03-13
47 Persea americana Maunalei Gulch, gulch bottom upstream of old pump station, Aleurites forest Preserved_Specimen trees Oppenheimer, H.L. 50809 Lanai BISH 2008-05-29
48 Persea americana Honolulu, Tantalus Round Top Dr roadside; disturbed mesic forest Preserved_Specimen tree; flowers in pubescent panicles Ray, G. 78 Oahu BISH 1998-02-01
49 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The avacado trees are common along the road side and along the dirt roads in the area. The avocado trees form groves and are in areas the dominant canopy species. The soil is `a`a with a thin layer of organic material. Preserved_Specimen Trees are up to 40 ft. in height. Yoshida, L. 79.032 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-22
50 Persea americana Kaimuki Slope 25-30%; soil = clay-loam. Preserved_Specimen Ornamental tree; rare; flowers very small, leaves broad. Kamae, K.K. 13 Oahu BISH 1967-03-04
51 Persea americana Koloa, Kalahao, yard at 3581 Kaloke Road Preserved_Specimen 7 m x 40 cm tree; bark gray, fissured; old leaves medium green, purplish mottling below; fruit ovoid, skin rough, green ripening purple, flesh light green, yellow around single seed Lorence, D.H. 9535 Kauai BISH 2006-12-28
52 Persea americana Kihei, HI 96753, USA UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria Vladimir J. Krajina V180259 kahoolawe HAPI 2/10/1962
53 Persea americana Lyon Arboretum; ML Makai Preserved_Specimen Tree, 30 ft. high, dbh 1.5 ft. Hirano, R. 11 Oahu BISH 1969-01-01
54 Persea americana Honolulu, University Avenue; Garden of D.L. Crawford Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m. tall; old leaves only on north side of tree. Fosberg, F.R. 10589 Oahu BISH 1934-01-24
55 Persea americana Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620210410 Oahu BISH 1962-02-10
56 Persea americana Wailuku District, W Maui Forest Reserve, Iao Valley, above lookout and parking lot along Iao Stream Preserved_Specimen Trees c 10 m. tall; corolla cream. Wagner, W.L. 5832 Maui BISH 1988-03-06
57 Persea americana Koloa, Kalahao, yard at 3581 Kaloke Road UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria Vladimir J. Krajina V180706 Kauai HAPI 2/14/1962
58 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau district, beside Puu oo road Disturbed mesic forest, roadside UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International G. J. Ray Hawaii HAPI 2/1/1998
59 Persea americana Woods on ridge north of Kuapa Pond Preserved_Specimen Gillespie, J.W. 1111 Oahu BISH 1927-07-08
60 Persea americana Waiahole Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1300 Oahu BISH 1909-01-23
61 Persea americana Honolulu, Univ. of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620214300 Oahu BISH 1962-02-14
62 Persea americana Tantalus, U.S.Experiment Station Preserved_Specimen MacDaniels, L.H. 369 Oahu BISH 1927-01-24
63 Persea americana Honolulu; planted at 2220 University Avenue Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 5574 Oahu BISH 1932-01-01
64 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The avacado trees are common along the road side and along the dirt roads in the area. The avocado trees form groves and are in areas the dominant canopy species. The soil is `a`a with a thin layer of organic material. Preserved_Specimen Trees are up to 40 ft. in height. Yoshida, L. 79.032 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-22
65 Persea americana 4 miles S of turn to Hookalu Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Maui BISH 1954-12-23
66 Persea americana Keanakakoi former dump area. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 ft. high; no flowers or fruit. Fagerlund, G.O. 445 Maui BISH 1943-03-09
67 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau district, beside Puu oo road Growing beside a road in Pennisetum (kikuyu grass)- Axonopus- Hypochoeris pasture with scattered Metrosideros on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Tree 15 ft. ht. No flowers, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 122 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-10
68 Persea americana Gulch behind Fort Shafter Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2569 Oahu BISH 1919-05-05
69 Persea americana Kau District; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kipuka Puaulu In Metrosideros-Acacia koa-Sapindus saponaria mesic forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree ca. 60 ft. tall. Sterile. Cuddihy, L.W. 2082 Hawaii BISH 1987-09-28
70 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau District, beside Puu oo road Pennisetum (kikuyu) - Axonopus - Hypochoeris pasture with scattered Metrosideros on pahoehoe substrate. Preserved_Specimen Tree, 15' height. No flowers, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 122 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-10
71 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Growing on the side of the road. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 8 Hawaii BISH 1979-03-07
72 Persea americana near L.D.S.Church, Waialua Slope 5 º; silty loam soil. Preserved_Specimen Common fruit tree. Tree to 20 ft. tall; small blossoms in panicles, 6 inch fruit. Afualo, D. 65 Oahu BISH 1975-03-16
73 Persea americana Hanalei District. Kalalau Trail, c 2.75 miles from Kee Beach Along trail; with Cordyline and Sadleria. Preserved_Specimen Tree of 18 ft. Flynn, T.W. 2091 Kauai BISH 1987-02-11
74 Persea americana Waimea District. Contour road running N-S between Polihale and Kaaweki Ridges Mixed mesophytic forest of Acacia koa with forestry plantings. Preserved_Specimen Tree 10 m. tall, young fruit green. Planted, regenerating and naturalized locally. Lorence, D.H. 5268 Kauai BISH 1987-06-09
75 Persea americana Honolulu, Punahou area, the residence of Joel Lau Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 2132 Oahu BISH 1986-03-13
76 Persea americana Maunalei Gulch, gulch bottom upstream of old pump station, Aleurites forest Preserved_Specimen trees Oppenheimer, H.L. 50809 Lanai BISH 2008-05-29
77 Persea americana Honolulu, Tantalus Round Top Dr roadside; disturbed mesic forest Preserved_Specimen tree; flowers in pubescent panicles Ray, G. 78 Oahu BISH 1998-02-01
78 Persea americana ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District The avacado trees are common along the road side and along the dirt roads in the area. The avocado trees form groves and are in areas the dominant canopy species. The soil is `a`a with a thin layer of organic material. Preserved_Specimen Trees are up to 40 ft. in height. Yoshida, L. 79.032 Hawaii BISH 1979-02-22
79 Persea americana Kaimuki Slope 25-30%; soil = clay-loam. Preserved_Specimen Ornamental tree; rare; flowers very small, leaves broad. Kamae, K.K. 13 Oahu BISH 1967-03-04
80 Persea americana Koloa, Kalahao, yard at 3581 Kaloke Road Preserved_Specimen 7 m x 40 cm tree; bark gray, fissured; old leaves medium green, purplish mottling below; fruit ovoid, skin rough, green ripening purple, flesh light green, yellow around single seed Lorence, D.H. 9535 Kauai BISH 2006-12-28
81 Persea americana Kihei, HI 96753, USA UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria Vladimir J. Krajina V180259 kahoolawe HAPI 2/10/1962
82 Persea americana Lyon Arboretum; ML Makai Preserved_Specimen Tree, 30 ft. high, dbh 1.5 ft. Hirano, R. 11 Oahu BISH 1969-01-01
83 Persea americana Honolulu, University Avenue; Garden of D.L. Crawford Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m. tall; old leaves only on north side of tree. Fosberg, F.R. 10589 Oahu BISH 1934-01-24
84 Persea americana Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620210410 Oahu BISH 1962-02-10
85 Persea americana Wailuku District, W Maui Forest Reserve, Iao Valley, above lookout and parking lot along Iao Stream Preserved_Specimen Trees c 10 m. tall; corolla cream. Wagner, W.L. 5832 Maui BISH 1988-03-06
86 Persea americana Koloa, Kalahao, yard at 3581 Kaloke Road UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria Vladimir J. Krajina V180706 Kauai HAPI 2/14/1962
87 Persea americana Keauhou Ranch, Kau district, beside Puu oo road Disturbed mesic forest, roadside UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International G. J. Ray Hawaii HAPI 2/1/1998
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