Pale melicope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pale melicope |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melicope
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| Species: |
pallida
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The pale melicope, also known as Melicope pallida, is a special kind of tree. It belongs to the Rutaceae family, which also includes citrus fruits! This tree is very unique because it is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This means it grows naturally only in Hawaii and nowhere else in the world.
Sadly, the pale melicope is in danger. It is an endangered species in the United States. Its biggest threat is habitat loss, which means its natural home is disappearing. In Hawaii, like other trees in the Melicope group, it is called alani.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The pale melicope tree can grow quite tall, reaching up to ten meters (about 33 feet) high. That's like a three-story building!
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are thin and oval-shaped. They can be as long as 21 centimeters (about 8 inches) and 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) wide. The leaves often look like they are folded along their middle.
When the tree blooms, it has pretty yellow-green flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called cymes. You can find these clusters where the leaves meet the branches.
Where Does It Live?
Today, you can only find the pale melicope on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Sadly, it used to live on the island of Oahu too, but it has now disappeared from there. This is called being extirpated.
Its Hawaiian Home
There are not many pale melicope trees left, only about 200 to 300 individuals. They like to grow in specific places. You can find them on exposed ridges and cliffs. They also like areas above valleys and near beautiful waterfalls.
Friends and Neighbors
The pale melicope shares its home with many other interesting Hawaiian plants. Some of its plant neighbors include:
- Alphitonia ponderosa (kauila)
- Alyxia stellata (maile)
- Antidesma platyphyllum (hame)
- Dianella sandwicensis (uki uki)
- Coprosma waimeae (olena)
- Dicranopteris linearis (uluhe)
- Dodonaea viscosa (aalii)
- Doodia kunthiana (okupukupu)
- Kadua affinis (manono)
- Leptecophylla tameiameiae (pukiawe)
- Melicope anisata (mokihana)
- Melicope barbigera (alani)
These plants all live together in the same special Hawaiian environment.
