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Guilandina major

(Medik.) Small (1903)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Guilandina

Hawaiian pearls, hihikolo, kākalaioa [kakalaioa], yellow nickers

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Climbers up to 15 m long, rusty tomentose or glabrous, covered with recurved prickles on young branches and leaf rachises.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Blades with 3–8 pairs of pinnae, leaflets 3–7 pairs per pinna; leaflets opposite or alternate, ovate–oblong to suborbicular 3–13 cm long, 1.5–6.5 cm wide. Apex acute to acuminate or rounded. Base cuneate to rounded. Petiolate. Stipules small, caducous, subulate, 1–3 mm long, often longitudinally split into 2–3 superimposed parts.

Flowers: Flowers in distinctly supra-axillary racemes with several serial buds between its base and the leaf axil. Flowers caesalpinaceous, unisexual (pistillate flowers seemingly bisexual (perfect), but with sterile anthers), 15–30 cm in diameter; bracts caducous, bracteoles absent. Calyx tube short, 5-lobed, hood-like. Corolla of 5 petals; petals yellow, 12–15 mm long. Stamens 10, distinct, alternately longer and shorter. Ovary superior.

Fruit: Pods indehiscent; flattened; slightly swollen; elliptic to suborbicular; 5–13 cm long; 4–6 cm wide; armed with prickles 5–10 mm long. Seeds 1–3(4); grayish yellow (gray when unripe); subglobose; 15–25 mm in diameter; transversely arranged.

Ploidy:

Habitat: occurring in gulches; on talus slopes and at the edge of open; mesic; coastal forest.

Elevation Range: 6–460 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous or Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Indigenous or Naturalized
O'ahu Indigenous or Naturalized
Molokai Indigenous or Naturalized
Lana'i Indigenous or Naturalized
Maui Indigenous or Naturalized
Hawai'i Indigenous or Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Notes

  • 6-460 m.
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • O'ahu 1864-1865
  • Probably naturalized or perhaps native to Hawai'i

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. S.E. U.S.: 591 (1903)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:648 (Ni, O, Mo, L, H [as Caesalpinia major]); Herbst & Wagner 1996:11 (WM); Gagnon et al. 2016:65 (Syn. C. major = G. major)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Guilandina major Niihau Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Niihau BISH 1939-11-02
2 Guilandina major Waimea Arboretum, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Orr, D. Oahu BISH 1994-06-27
3 Guilandina major Waimea Arboretum, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Orr, D. Oahu BISH 1994-06-27
4 Guilandina major Kaiholena Gulch Preserved_Specimen Montgomery, S.L. Molokai BISH 1986-08-24
5 Guilandina major Waimea Arboretum, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Orr, D. Oahu BISH 1994-06-27
6 Guilandina major Papouwelu, Waianae Range Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1910-07-27
7 Guilandina major Waimea Arboretum, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Orr, D. Oahu BISH 1994-06-27
8 Guilandina major Awalua above Pohaku Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1913-10-05
9 Guilandina major Large branch of Lualualei Valley southwest of Pohakea Pass, Oahu, T. Hawaii Dry region Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7234 Oahu BISH 1932-08-14
10 Guilandina major unknown Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 109 BISH 1864-01-01
11 Guilandina major near Mauna Kapu and Palikea Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7235 Oahu BISH 1927-01-15
12 Guilandina major Mts. near Koele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 147 Lanai BISH 1913-06-01
13 Guilandina major Halulu Lake, Near Open woods on shore Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22724 Niihau BISH 1947-08-12
14 Guilandina major Between Kamalo and Kaunakakai Dry valley. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7237 Molokai BISH 1928-07-29
15 Guilandina major First large side valley on S of Makua Valley scrambling over rocks in arid regions Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7241 Oahu BISH 1931-01-01
16 Guilandina major ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District. Growing near the Experimental Tree Planting Area Near experimental tree planting area. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 31 Hawaii BISH 1979-05-10
17 Guilandina major Second eastern gulch, Wawaia Hot arid talus. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7240 Molokai BISH 1928-06-27
18 Guilandina major Waianae Mts., Firebreak Trail climbing over shrubs and small trees. Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. 513 Oahu BISH 1960-06-03
19 Guilandina major Waianae Mts., ridge between Kaluaa and Waieli on trail up to Hapapa near watertank near fence crossover. Dry disturbed ridge. Preserved_Specimen Kong, K. 547 Oahu BISH 2021-01-27
20 Guilandina major W Maui, Honokowai, Haenanui Gulch Vine climbing into trees. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 3645 Maui BISH 1994-02-26
21 Guilandina major ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District. Growing near the Experimental Tree Planting Area Near experimental tree planting area. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 31 Hawaii BISH 1979-05-10
22 Guilandina major Second eastern gulch, Wawaia Hot arid talus. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7240 Molokai BISH 1928-06-27
23 Guilandina major First large side valley on S of Makua Valley scrambling over rocks in arid regions Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7241 Oahu BISH 1931-01-01
24 Guilandina major W Maui, Wailuku District, Pohakea Gulch Growing in gully and covering other vegetation. Vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha var. glaberrima, Dicranopteris linearis, Pleomele auwahiensis, Myrsine lessertiana, M. lanaiensis, Coprosma foliosa, Pisonia sandwicensis, Charpentiera obovata, Pouteria sandwicensis, Wikstroemia oahuensis var. oahuensis, Xylosma hawaiiense, Claoxylon sandwicense, Psidium cattleianum, Physalis peruviana, Lantana camara, Conyza bonariensis. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 60152 Maui BISH 2001-06-20
25 Guilandina major Makua Valley, first large side valley south scrambling over rocks in arid regions Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7241 Oahu BISH 1931-09-07
26 Guilandina major W Maui, Wailuku District, Pohakea Gulch Growing in gully and covering other vegetation. Vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha var. glaberrima, Dicranopteris linearis, Pleomele auwahiensis, Myrsine lessertiana, M. lanaiensis, Coprosma foliosa, Pisonia sandwicensis, Charpentiera obovata, Pouteria sandwicensis, Wikstroemia oahuensis var. oahuensis, Xylosma hawaiiense, Claoxylon sandwicense, Psidium cattleianum, Physalis peruviana, Lantana camara, Conyza bonariensis. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 60152 Maui BISH 2001-06-20
27 Guilandina major Kalaupapa; Kauhako crater, SW zone trail through ohe makai-halapepe forest; rim, open Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 532 Molokai BISH 2004-12-08
28 Guilandina major Pupukea-Kahuku Trail on Kahuku side on slope with trees and Dicranopteris Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7239 Oahu BISH 1931-12-06
29 Guilandina major Castle Trail to Pauoa Flats Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2389 Oahu BISH 1916-08-01
30 Guilandina major halfway between Puu Manawahua and Kahe Point arid foothills Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7238 Oahu BISH 1931-09-27
31 Guilandina major Kaiholena Gulch Metrosideros-Dicranopteris forest with Myrsine kanaiensis, Streblus, Charpentiera, Planchnella, Cyrtandra Preserved_Specimen Perlman, S. 4961 Lanai BISH 1986-08-24
32 Guilandina major In front of Manoa Cave, Manoa Valley, Oahu, T. Hawaii Dry region Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 7236 Oahu BISH 1928-06-23
33 Guilandina major Halulu Lake, Near Open woods on shore Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22724 Niihau BISH 1947-08-12
34 Guilandina major Makua Valley, first large side valley south scrambling over rocks in arid regions Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7241 Oahu BISH 1931-09-07
35 Guilandina major W Maui, Wailuku District, Pohakea Gulch Growing in gully and covering other vegetation. Vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha var. glaberrima, Dicranopteris linearis, Pleomele auwahiensis, Myrsine lessertiana, M. lanaiensis, Coprosma foliosa, Pisonia sandwicensis, Charpentiera obovata, Pouteria sandwicensis, Wikstroemia oahuensis var. oahuensis, Xylosma hawaiiense, Claoxylon sandwicense, Psidium cattleianum, Physalis peruviana, Lantana camara, Conyza bonariensis. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 60152 Maui BISH 2001-06-20
36 Guilandina major One of the dry valleys between Kamalo and Kaunakakai, Molokai, T. Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7237 Molokai BISH 1928-07-29
37 Guilandina major Beach beyond Say's Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 77 Lanai BISH 1913-09-06
38 Guilandina major West Maui, Kapunakea Preserve, forest reserve fenceline. Preserved_Specimen Hughes, G.D. 511 Maui BISH 1993-02-20
39 Guilandina major Mts. near Koele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 147 Lanai BISH 1913-06-01
40 Guilandina major South Kona District, Kapua, along road Preserved_Specimen Frederick, L. 73 Hawaii BISH 1946-12-31
41 Guilandina major Lanai Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 311 Lanai BISH 1917-09-01
42 Guilandina major Kaluanui Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 140 Lanai BISH 1924-04-16
43 Guilandina major Waiakaiole Valley Preserved_Specimen Hammond, S. 8124 Lanai BISH 1910-07-28
44 Guilandina major Aukuu Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 83 Lanai BISH 1913-05-10
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