ʻĀlaʻa

Kauaʻi evidence

Accepted status, Kauaʻi occurrence, nativity, growth form, and names were audited against the 2026 Smithsonian checklist and linked habit source. Scientific synonyms: Myrsine molokaiensis H. Lév.; Planchonella auahiensis (Rock) Skottsb.; Planchonella auahiensis var. aurantia (Rock) Skottsb.; Planchonella aurantia (Rock) Skottsb.; Planchonella sandwicensis var. molokaiense (H. Lév.) Lauener; Planchonella sandwicensis var. spathulata (Hillebr.) H. J. Lam; Planchonella spathulata var. molokaiensis (H. Lév.) H. St. John; Pouteria auahiensis (Rock) Fosberg; Pouteria sandwicensis var. spathulata (Hillebr.) Baehini; Pouteria spathulata (Hillebr.) Fosberg; Sideroxylon auahiense Rock; Sideroxylon auahiense var. aurantium Rock; Sideroxylon spathulatum Hillebr.; Sideroxylon spathulatum var. molokaiense (H. Lév.) Rock; Suttonia molokaiensis (H. Lév.) H. Lév..

Names and classification

Scientific name

Planchonella spathulata

Hawaiian names

ʻĀlaʻa · Āulu · ʻĒlaʻa · Kaulu

Other names

Planchonella spathulata · ʻĀlaʻa · Āulu · ʻĒlaʻa · Kaulu · Myrsine molokaiensis H. Lév. · Planchonella auahiensis (Rock) Skottsb. · Planchonella auahiensis var. aurantia (Rock) Skottsb. · Planchonella aurantia (Rock) Skottsb. · Planchonella sandwicensis var. molokaiense (H. Lév.) Lauener · Planchonella sandwicensis var. spathulata (Hillebr.) H. J. Lam · Planchonella spathulata var. molokaiensis (H. Lév.) H. St. John · Pouteria auahiensis (Rock) Fosberg · Pouteria sandwicensis var. spathulata (Hillebr.) Baehini · Pouteria spathulata (Hillebr.) Fosberg · Sideroxylon auahiense Rock · Sideroxylon auahiense var. aurantium Rock · Sideroxylon spathulatum Hillebr. · Sideroxylon spathulatum var. molokaiense (H. Lév.) Rock · Suttonia molokaiensis (H. Lév.) H. Lév.

Record type

Species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Recorded on Kauaʻi

Origin

Endemic

Conservation status

Smithsonian checklist assessment: Apparently Secure; U.S. status: No Status

Evidence date

2026-10-05

Evidence limits

Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Dry forest · Mesic forest

Food and resource needs

Light, water, nutrients, and suitable habitat substrate

Reproduction

Viable flowers or seed and suitable establishment conditions; species-specific reproductive review remains open

Shelter

Suitable native vegetation structure and substrate

Growth form

Tree; Shrub

Threats and conservation

Threats

Species-specific threat review pending; no fine-location evidence is published in this card

Conservation actions

Protect native habitat and verify species-specific actions against current conservation sources

Monitoring

Taxonomic identity, population condition, recruitment, and locally documented pressures; exact locations withheld

Data gaps

Species-specific ecology and threat citations · Reproductive phenology · Fine-scale habitat information intentionally not published

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Not assessed

Seasonal description

ʻĀlaʻa (Planchonella spathulata) is a tree; shrub recorded on Kauaʻi. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Sources and further reading

• https://doi.org/10.5479/si.32124043
• https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/hawaiianflora/speciesdescr.cfm?genus=Planchonella&species=spathulata
• https://www.nativeplantsofhawaii.org/p/planchonella-sandwicensis-p-spathulata
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tax.13320
• https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/hawaiianflora/genusdescr.cfm?genus=Planchonella

Explore field guides

• Native Trees of Kauaʻi