Biology:Psydrax odorata
| Psydrax odorata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Psydrax |
| Species: | P. odorata
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| Binomial name | |
| Psydrax odorata | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
Psydrax odorata, known as alaheʻe in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae.[3] It is native to the Pacific Islands, New Guinea and Australia.[1][4] The first name, Psydrax, is the definition for a bleb, while odoratus defines as a nice aroma.[5]
Description
The species range from 6–30 ft (1.8–9.1 m) in height, has a spread of 3–7 ft (0.91–2.13 m),[6] and a trunk width of up to 4 in (10 cm).[7] The leaves are glossy green in color, are up to 3.5 inches (89 mm) long and elliptic. The fruits of the plant are quite round, are black in color and 3/8 wide.[6] They also have the capability to live for 5 years while being able to live in difficult environments such as: dry soil, little sunlight for photosynthesis and little to no fertilizer.[5] The white flowers are bisexual.[5] Meaning that the white flowers of Psydrax odorata have both male and female organs for reproductive. This aids in the survivability for offspring.[8]
Ecology
The fruits produce many seeds which are often attacked by the larvae of Alucita objurgatella, a species of the many-plumed moths.[6]
Habitat
The species can be found growing in dry shrub land and in dry to moist forests at elevations of up to 2,700 feet (800 m).[6] This Psydrax Odorata plant is mainly found in the Hawaiian Islands. This species can be specifically seen on a hill called Kaluakauila in O'ahu.[9] They are also found in the Big Island of Hawaii and Lanai.[9]
Uses
Native Hawaiians used the very hard wood of alaheʻe to make koʻi alaheʻe (adzes for cutting softer woods such as Erythrina sandwicensis), ʻōʻō (digging sticks), and ʻo (short spears). A black dye was made from the leaves.[4] Natural medicine for the sick was used from the stem and leaves.[10] Some people used leaves (as well as other ingredients) to disinfect bloody fluids of the body.[11] The leaves were specifically used because Pacific Islanders and Indigenous Australian trusted its properties to take effect on severe and non-severe injuries.[12]
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References
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Wikispecies has information related to Psydrax odorata |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Psydrax odorata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=170275. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ↑ "Canthium odoratum (G. Forst.) Seem.". ITIS Standard Reports. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35150. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
- ↑ "Psydrax odorata (G. Forst.) A.C. Sm. & S. Darwin". The PLANTS Database. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PSOD.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport (1998). "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest". Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/auwahi/ethnobotany_of_auwahi.pdf.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Native Plants of Hawai‘i - Psydrax odorata" (in en-US). https://www.nativeplantsofhawaii.org/p/psydrax-odorata.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Psydrax odorata". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/psy-odor.htm. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
- ↑ Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989). "Alaheʻe". Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced). United States Forest Service. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Canthium_odoratum.pdf.
- ↑ "Bisexual Botany". June 20, 2024. https://www.lpzoo.org/bisexual-botany/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific - Hawaii". https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/geog/tdfpacific/hawaii.html.
- ↑ "Flora of Hawaii: Alahee" (in en). 2022-09-26. https://htmc1910.org/news/flora-of-hawaii-alahee/.
- ↑ "Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) – Maui Nui Botanical Gardens" (in en-US). https://mnbg.org/hawaiian-native-plant-collection/alahee-psydrax-odorata/.
- ↑ "Relationship: Injuries and Malay Bush - Caring Sunshine" (in en-US). https://caringsunshine.com/relationships/relationship-injuries-and-malay-bush/.
Wikidata ☰ Q7256554 entry
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