Aleurites moluccanus
Best practices for survivability and field observations
Noted by several respondents that it is a long-living, large, aggressive species, particularly in windward areas, gulches, etc. and that it provides good shade and a moist understory. Another cautioned that its round nuts are hazardous to walk on in urban settings (hard surfaces like sidewalks). A couple of respondents noted that it does produce a lot of nuts which presumably are flammable. Cultural practices include burning for light, medicine, kinolau Kamapuaʻa, kapa dyes, ink, tatoo, lei, kaona enlightenment, food, for use in ceremonies.
Stressors and pests
Pests include Queensland long-horn beetles (attacks mature trees). A couple respondents noted that it is susceptible to rotting, with one noting that this is due to “poor compartmentalization (meaning it doesn’t close its wounds well).” It can attract rats, especially if nuts are not regularly harvested and accumulate on the ground. Several questioned its susceptibility to wind damage. Once moderately established (> 2 feet tall), it appears to be unaffected by weed competition, noting that it can be covered by vines (e.g., Desmodium spp).
Availability and propagation
Many respondents noted that it is readily available, producing lots of seeds, and keiki under mature trees which can be translocated. Some noted that it is fast growing from seeds and is easy to propagate.
Survey Results
For information about the survey, refer to our article: on Coastal Plants for Creating Green Breaks
Coastal Plant Hardiness Evaluation
Plant Tolerance | I don't know | susceptible | moderate | tolerant | extremely tolerant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. `Ulu {‘Ulu (breadfruit)} (Artocarpus altilis) [drought] | 12 | 9 | 21 | 13 | 5 |
1. `Ulu {‘Ulu (breadfruit)} (Artocarpus altilis) [heat and/or wind] | 11 | 5 | 21 | 17 | 8 |
1. `Ulu {‘Ulu (breadfruit)} (Artocarpus altilis) [pests / pathogens] | 14 | 0 | 9 | 26 | 10 |
1. `Ulu {‘Ulu (breadfruit)} (Artocarpus altilis) [weed competition] | 13 | 0 | 7 | 24 | 16 |
1. `Ulu {‘Ulu (breadfruit)} (Artocarpus altilis) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 34 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
2. Kou (Cordia subcordata) [drought] | 5 | 2 | 9 | 32 | 11 |
2. Kou (Cordia subcordata) [heat and/or wind] | 5 | 0 | 9 | 30 | 17 |
2. Kou (Cordia subcordata) [pests / pathogens] | 8 | 7 | 12 | 24 | 9 |
2. Kou (Cordia subcordata) [weed competition] | 6 | 1 | 10 | 32 | 11 |
2. Kou (Cordia subcordata) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 40 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
3. Milo (Thespesia populnea) [drought] | 5 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 22 |
3. Milo (Thespesia populnea) [heat and/or wind] | 5 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 29 |
3. Milo (Thespesia populnea) [pests / pathogens] | 12 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 21 |
3. Milo (Thespesia populnea) [weed competition] | 10 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 21 |
3. Milo (Thespesia populnea) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 41 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
4. Kukui, candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccanus) [drought] | 6 | 4 | 19 | 21 | 11 |
4. Kukui, candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccanus) [heat and/or wind] | 7 | 5 | 18 | 20 | 12 |
4. Kukui, candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccanus) [pests / pathogens] | 10 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 14 |
4. Kukui, candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccanus) [weed competition] | 8 | 0 | 6 | 30 | 17 |
4. Kukui, candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccanus) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 39 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
5. Mai`a {Mai‘a, banana} (Musa species) [drought] | 8 | 30 | 17 | 4 | 0 |
5. Mai`a {Mai‘a, banana} (Musa species) [heat and/or wind] | 9 | 24 | 15 | 12 | 0 |
5. Mai`a {Mai‘a, banana} (Musa species) [pests / pathogens] | 8 | 31 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
5. Mai`a {Mai‘a, banana} (Musa species) [weed competition] | 11 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 5 |
5. Mai`a {Mai‘a, banana} (Musa species) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 31 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
6. ʻUala (Ipomoea batatas) [drought] | 9 | 5 | 24 | 16 | 5 |
6. ʻUala (Ipomoea batatas) [heat and/or wind] | 8 | 0 | 20 | 24 | 7 |
6. ʻUala (Ipomoea batatas) [pests / pathogens] | 11 | 13 | 21 | 13 | 1 |
6. ʻUala (Ipomoea batatas) [weed competition] | 11 | 11 | 21 | 12 | 4 |
6. ʻUala (Ipomoea batatas) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 24 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
7. Hau, beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) [drought] | 8 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 10 |
7. Hau, beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) [heat and/or wind] | 7 | 1 | 6 | 29 | 16 |
7. Hau, beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) [pests / pathogens] | 10 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 13 |
7. Hau, beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) [weed competition] | 8 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 21 |
7. Hau, beach hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 40 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
8. Kamani tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) [drought] | 16 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 7 |
8. Kamani tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) [heat and/or wind] | 14 | 0 | 10 | 22 | 12 |
8. Kamani tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) [pests / pathogens] | 20 | 0 | 9 | 20 | 8 |
8. Kamani tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) [weed competition] | 17 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 11 |
8. Kamani tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 45 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
9. Noni (Morinda citrifolia) [drought] | 5 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 17 |
9. Noni (Morinda citrifolia) [heat and/or wind] | 6 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 17 |
9. Noni (Morinda citrifolia) [pests / pathogens] | 10 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 10 |
9. Noni (Morinda citrifolia) [weed competition] | 8 | 1 | 4 | 36 | 10 |
9. Noni (Morinda citrifolia) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 40 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
10. Monkey pod (Samanea saman) [drought] | 11 | 1 | 18 | 17 | 10 |
10. Monkey pod (Samanea saman) [heat and/or wind] | 10 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 10 |
10. Monkey pod (Samanea saman) [pests / pathogens] | 16 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 8 |
10. Monkey pod (Samanea saman) [weed competition] | 13 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 10 |
10. Monkey pod (Samanea saman) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 38 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
11. Shower trees (Cassia species) [drought] | 23 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 4 |
11. Shower trees (Cassia species) [heat and/or wind] | 21 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 4 |
11. Shower trees (Cassia species) [pests / pathogens] | 26 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 3 |
11. Shower trees (Cassia species) [weed competition] | 27 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 2 |
11. Shower trees (Cassia species) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 46 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
12. Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) [drought] | 20 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 9 |
12. Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) [heat and/or wind] | 19 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 16 |
12. Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) [pests / pathogens] | 24 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 8 |
12. Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) [weed competition] | 23 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 7 |
12. Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 44 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
13. Mango (Mangifera indica) [drought] | 8 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 10 |
13. Mango (Mangifera indica) [heat and/or wind] | 7 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 10 |
13. Mango (Mangifera indica) [pests / pathogens] | 11 | 5 | 18 | 20 | 5 |
13. Mango (Mangifera indica) [weed competition] | 12 | 1 | 7 | 30 | 9 |
13. Mango (Mangifera indica) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 33 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
14. Lychee (Litchi chinensis) [drought] | 16 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 1 |
14. Lychee (Litchi chinensis) [heat and/or wind] | 16 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 1 |
14. Lychee (Litchi chinensis) [pests / pathogens] | 18 | 4 | 18 | 16 | 1 |
14. Lychee (Litchi chinensis) [weed competition] | 19 | 1 | 13 | 21 | 3 |
14. Lychee (Litchi chinensis) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 42 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
15. Longan (Dimocarpus longan) [drought] | 27 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
15. Longan (Dimocarpus longan) [heat and/or wind] | 26 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 2 |
15. Longan (Dimocarpus longan) [pests / pathogens] | 28 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 1 |
15. Longan (Dimocarpus longan) [weed competition] | 29 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 3 |
15. Longan (Dimocarpus longan) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 45 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
16. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): [drought] | 26 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 2 |
16. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): [heat and/or wind] | 24 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 2 |
16. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): [pests / pathogens] | 27 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 4 |
16. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): [weed competition] | 27 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 6 |
16. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 45 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
17. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense) [drought] | 7 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 26 |
17. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense) [heat and/or wind] | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 30 |
17. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense) [pests / pathogens] | 10 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 4 |
17. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense) [weed competition] | 11 | 3 | 15 | 23 | 6 |
17. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 33 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
18. Koaia (Acacia koaia) [drought] | 11 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 8 |
18. Koaia (Acacia koaia) [heat and/or wind] | 10 | 1 | 15 | 22 | 9 |
18. Koaia (Acacia koaia) [pests / pathogens] | 14 | 10 | 18 | 16 | 1 |
18. Koaia (Acacia koaia) [weed competition] | 13 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 4 |
18. Koaia (Acacia koaia) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 33 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
19. Neleau or Neneleau (Rhus sandwicensis) [drought] | 29 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
19. Neleau or Neneleau (Rhus sandwicensis) [heat and/or wind] | 30 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
19. Neleau or Neneleau (Rhus sandwicensis) [pests / pathogens] | 31 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 4 |
19. Neleau or Neneleau (Rhus sandwicensis) [weed competition] | 29 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 4 |
19. Neleau or Neneleau (Rhus sandwicensis) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 46 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
20. Lonomea or manele [drought] | 15 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 8 |
20. Lonomea or manele [heat and/or wind] | 16 | 1 | 9 | 23 | 8 |
20. Lonomea or manele [pests / pathogens] | 17 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 8 |
20. Lonomea or manele [weed competition] | 18 | 2 | 11 | 17 | 9 |
20. Lonomea or manele [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 48 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
21. Hōʻawa (Pittosporum species) [drought] | 18 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 2 |
21. Hōʻawa (Pittosporum species) [heat and/or wind] | 18 | 1 | 13 | 16 | 2 |
21. Hōʻawa (Pittosporum species) [pests / pathogens] | 21 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 1 |
21. Hōʻawa (Pittosporum species) [weed competition] | 20 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 0 |
21. Hōʻawa (Pittosporum species) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 36 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
22. Pohuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae) [drought] | 13 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 23 |
22. Pohuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae) [heat and/or wind] | 12 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 27 |
22. Pohuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae) [pests / pathogens] | 19 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 10 |
22. Pohuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae) [weed competition] | 16 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
22. Pohuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 41 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
23. Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada) [drought] | 2 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 27 |
23. Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada) [heat and/or wind] | 2 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 34 |
23. Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada) [pests / pathogens] | 9 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 21 |
23. Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada) [weed competition] | 6 | 0 | 5 | 31 | 20 |
23. Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 42 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
24. Ma`o {Ma‘o} (Gossypium tomentosum) [drought] | 7 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 27 |
24. Ma`o {Ma‘o} (Gossypium tomentosum) [heat and/or wind] | 8 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 27 |
24. Ma`o {Ma‘o} (Gossypium tomentosum) [pests / pathogens] | 13 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 6 |
24. Ma`o {Ma‘o} (Gossypium tomentosum) [weed competition] | 12 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 7 |
24. Ma`o {Ma‘o} (Gossypium tomentosum) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 35 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
25. ʻUlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) [drought] | 6 | 0 | 7 | 25 | 23 |
25. ʻUlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) [heat and/or wind] | 6 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 27 |
25. ʻUlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) [pests / pathogens] | 14 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 12 |
25. ʻUlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) [weed competition] | 11 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 10 |
25. ʻUlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 36 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
26. Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) [drought] | 7 | 2 | 8 | 21 | 18 |
26. Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) [heat and/or wind] | 7 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 17 |
26. Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) [pests / pathogens] | 9 | 7 | 18 | 15 | 8 |
26. Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) [weed competition] | 10 | 1 | 14 | 23 | 8 |
26. Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 35 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
27. ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) [drought] | 7 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 38 |
27. ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) [heat and/or wind] | 7 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 39 |
27. ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) [pests / pathogens] | 10 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 31 |
27. ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) [weed competition] | 9 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 29 |
27. ʻUhaloa (Waltheria indica) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 35 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
28. ʻĀweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense) [drought] | 8 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 27 |
28. ʻĀweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense) [heat and/or wind] | 9 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 29 |
28. ʻĀweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense) [pests / pathogens] | 12 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 20 |
28. ʻĀweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense) [weed competition] | 9 | 2 | 8 | 21 | 15 |
28. ʻĀweoweo (Chenopodium oahuense) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 35 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
29. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [drought] | 2 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 26 |
29. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [heat and/or wind] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 35 |
29. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [pests / pathogens] | 7 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 29 |
29. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [weed competition] | 6 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 19 |
29. Pohinahina (Vitex rotundifolia) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 34 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
30. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) [drought] | 7 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 16 |
30. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) [heat and/or wind] | 6 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 18 |
30. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) [pests / pathogens] | 11 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 14 |
30. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) [weed competition] | 6 | 3 | 19 | 23 | 8 |
30. ʻĀkia (Wikstroemia uva-ursi) [palatable to deer/goats/etc] | 34 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Plant Tolerance | I don't know | susceptible | moderate | tolerant | extremely tolerant |