Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees ca. 7–9 m tall, well branched above the middle, secretory canals present in most parts, andromonoecious .

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (pinnate). Alternate. Blades 28–57 cm long; petiolules of lateral leaflets (2–)5–22 mm long, those of the terminal leaflet (17–)20–50 mm long; leaflets 5 to 9, narrowly ovate to elliptic, 4–8 x (5.5–)7–17 cm, the lower–most pair sometimes reduced. Apex acute to nearly rounded. Base leaflet bases acute to rounded or subcordate, usually oblique on the lateral leaflets. Surfaces densely rusty brown to tawny farinose stellate pubescent throughout except on the Upper surfaces of the leaflets; lamina glossy green and glabrous above, often with a whitish scurf, mid–vein yellow–green, farinose stellate pubescent below with evident yellow–brown venation. Leaflet margins entire, minutely revolute. Petioles 7–17 cm long, stout, ca. 4–8(–10) mm diam. at the base; rachis articulated at the petiolule bases; petiolules of lateral leaflets (2–)5–22 mm long, those of the terminal leaf– let (17–)20–50 mm long; leaflets 5 to 9, narrowly ovate to elliptic, 4–8 X (5.5–)7–17 cm, the lower– most pair sometimes reduced. Stipules absent or rudimentary.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescence axillary, paniculate–umbellate, pendent, densely brown farinose stellate pubescent throughout, primary axis stout, (5–)6–13 cm long, secondary axes (2–)3–6, 2–4 terminal and (0–)1–2 inserted laterally along the primary axis, the uppermost secondary axes (peduncles) 6–10 cm long, bearing ca. 10 to 15 flowers ca. 3 to 8 forming a terminal umbellule and the others scattered along the axis, the lowermost generally abortive and leaving an evident scar, the lower secondary axes (when present) sometimes further divided, 13–15 cm long, with 10 to 12 tertiary axes (peduncles)bearing ca. 7 to 15 apparently staminate flowers, 3 to 6 forming a terminal umbellule and the others borne mostly in the distal half, many early abortive and leaving an evident scar. pedicels stout 2–7 mm long ca. 3–4 mm in diameter in hermaphrodite flowers ca. 2 mm diameters in staminate flowers. Flowers bisexual (perfect) and staminate. Calyx cupuliform, shallow, ca. 1 mm high at anthesis, expanding to ca. 2 mm in fruit, irregularly undulate. Corolla depressed–rounded to broadly obtuse on nearly triangular in bud. petals 10(–11), sometimes remaining united in pairs at anthesis and appearing fewer in number. lanceolate–triangular, yellow–green, fleshy, coriaceous when dry, densely farinose stellate pubescent on the dorsal surface, glabrous within in hermaphrodite flowers 5–6 mm long in bud expanding to 8–12.5 mm at anthesis, smaller in staminate flowers up to 4–5 mm at anthesis. Stamens 10 (or 11) in hermaphrodite flowers; filaments thick ca. 4 mm long; anthers 3–3.5 mm long. In staminate flowers; filaments 2–2.5 mm long; anthers 2.5 mm long. Ovary inferior, 5-carpellate, obconic in bud, becoming somewhat urceolate at anthesis especially in hermaphrodite flowers surrounded by a concave nectar disk tapering into a stout column of 5 fused styles ca. 1–2 mm long at anthesis expanding to 4 mm in fruit, crowned by 5 sessile stigmas.

Fruit: Drupes urceolate 15–20 mm high 10–16 mm wide near the middle 10–12(–16) mm wide distally with a distinctly expanded calyx rim. Seeds 1 per pyrene; embryo small. Nearly mature seeds tan–brown ovate to elliptic–compressed; broader at base 11 x 7mm.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Steep north facing mesic to wet ‘Ōhi‘a forest with a mostly open canopy.

Elevation Range: 585–1200 m