Sapindus oahuensis - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Currently Viewing: Sapindus oahuensis

Sapindus oahuensis - Ripe fruits, one opened to show seed

P. Goltra

Other Resources for Sapindus oahuensis

Habit (photo)

Sapindus oahuensis - Branch with flower buds

Branch with flower buds (photo)

Fruiting branch (photo)

Sapindus oahuensis - Branch with flowers

Branch with flowers (photo)

Taxonomy:

Sapindus oahuensis Hillebrand (Sapindaceae)

Hawaiian: Aulu, Kaulu,
Kaua’i: Lonomea

Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division; Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Dicotyledonae
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Sapindus
Species: oahuensis

Description:

Aulu trees are somewhat shorter than the soapberry (Sapindus saponaria), reaching heights of about 15m tall.

Aulu leaves are simple and elliptical, 7.5-27 x 3-14.5 cm. The silky brown flowers are single sexed, with both sexes occurring on the same tree. The flowers are produced in panicles up to 10-20 cm long. Aulu fruits are brown to black and round when ripe, about 2-3 cm in diameter. The single large seed is 1.2-2 cm long and dark brown.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)

Geographic Distribution:

Aulu is endemic to the islands of Kaua'i and O'ahu. It grows in moist (mesic) to dry forests at elevations of 200 to 2,000 feet elevation.

It occurs in northwestern Kaua'i in the Waimea Canyon complex, and on O'ahu in the Wai'anae Mountains and from Waimalu to Niu Valley in the Ko'olau Mountains.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)

Medicinal Uses:**

The seeds were used medicinally by the Hawaiians.

** The informat

ion provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.

Status:

Despite Aulu’s narrow range, the populations are considered stable and the species is not listed as being endangered.

Native Legends and Names:

The genus name “sapindus” comes from the combination of “sap” meaning soap and “Indus” meaning from India, where this use was first recorded.

The fruit pulp of Sapindus saponaria contains saponins and was used as a soap substitute. The attractive brown seeds can be strung into lei.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)

NTBG Herbarium Data:

Click to view an example from our herbarium

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