Sapindus oahuensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sapindus oahuensis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sapindus
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| Species: |
oahuensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Sapindus lonomea H.St.John |
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Sapindus oahuensis is a special kind of tree that belongs to the soapberry family. It's found only in Hawaii, which means it's endemic there. You can spot it on the islands of Kauaʻi (especially in Waimea Canyon) and Oʻahu (in the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges). People call it by many names, like Āulu, Oahu soapberry, alulu, kaulu, and lonomea.
Contents
Discovering the Oahu Soapberry Tree
This amazing tree grows in dry and moist forest areas. You can find it at elevations from about 200 to 2000 feet (around 60 to 600 meters) above sea level.
What the Oahu Soapberry Looks Like
The Āulu tree can grow quite tall, reaching up to 18 meters (about 59 feet) high. Its trunk can be as wide as 0.5 meters (about 1.6 feet).
Its leaves are arranged in a special way, one after another along the branch. They are smooth and don't have any hairs. Unlike some other soapberry trees, the Āulu has simple leaves, meaning each leaf is just one blade. They are a bit thick, green, and have a yellow line down the middle. These leaves can be up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long.
The tree produces many greenish-yellow, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence, which looks like a branching group of flowers. Both male and female flowers can be found on the tree.
After the flowers, the tree grows shiny, leathery fruits. These fruits are like berries and are about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long. Inside each fruit, there's one large, black seed.
How People Used the Seeds
In the past, the seeds of the Āulu tree were very useful. People would string them together to make beautiful leis. Leis are traditional Hawaiian garlands, often made of flowers, leaves, or seeds, and are given as a sign of affection or welcome.
Images for kids
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The shiny fruits of the Oahu soapberry tree.
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See also
In Spanish: Sapindus oahuensis para niños
