Common Name: Kauila

General Information

Colubrina oppositifolia is a tree growing from 5 - 13 metres tall[].
One of the hardest of the native woods of Hawaii, the species was heavily harvested by ancient Hawaiians and is now only rarely found[]. It has been estimated that there are only 280 - 300 individual plants remaining[].
The population has suffered a decline of at least 80% over the last three generations. In the past, this was a forest dominant species, now it is relatively rare[]. The spread of alien plants, fire, damage caused by feral pigs and goats, and the black twig borer are among the major threats to the remaining population. The species is now classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern central Pacific - Hawaii.

Habitat

Dry and moist forests. Gulch slopes on the older islands; old forested lava flows on the island of Hawaii[]. Dry to moist forest up to elevations of 920 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is hard[]. It was traditionally used in making Hawaiian grass huts, spears etc[].

Propagation

Seed - untreated seed has a germination rate of 5 - 30%. Pre-soaking for 3 days in cool water, or scarifying the seed can increase this rate to 65%, whilst reducing germination time to 2 - 8 weeks. Seeds should be planted in a shallow container in a well-draining medium. The planting medium should be keep moist until germination and the containers should be kept in a covered shaded area for better control of moisture levels[].
The fruit of Colubrina oppositifolia is a almost round capsule 1/2 inch in diameter. The capsule has 3 parts and there are generally several seeds in each capsule. The dark brown to black oval seeds can be up to 1/4 inch long. The fruits ripen from late spring through early fall. The capsule opens explosively when it is mature. Full-sized fruits that have not completely dried and are still greenish-brown often contain more viable seeds than completely mature capsules. These not-quite-mature fruits should be ripened in a dry location free from insects for a few weeks. The seeds can be extracted after this process[].

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