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uhiuhi
Scientific Name: Caesalpinia kavaiensis
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Tree, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Caesalpinia kavaiensis: The Uhiuhi
Caesalpinia kavaiensis, commonly known as Uhiuhi, is a rare and endangered flowering plant endemic to Hawaii. This species belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Caesalpinia kavaiensis H. Mann
- Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
- Synonyms: Mezoneuron kavaiense (mentioned in context of endangered status)
- Common Names: Uhiuhi, Kāwaʻu (Maui), Kea (Maui)
Distribution and Habitat
- Caesalpinia kavaiensis is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, specifically found on Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii.
- It persists in the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Caesalpinia kavaiensis is described as a shrub or small to medium-sized tree, ranging from 12 to over 30 feet (approximately 10 meters) in height, potentially reaching 35 feet.
- It features thick, rough, dark gray bark that breaks up into pieces.
- The tree has a spreading crown.
- The heartwood is extremely hard and dark brown.
- The wood is so dense that it sinks in saltwater.
Conservation Status
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists Caesalpinia kavaiensis as Endangered.
- It is considered one of Hawaii's rarest and most endangered species, with estimates suggesting only around 70 to 80 trees remaining in the wild at some counts.
Quirky Facts
- The wood of the Uhiuhi is so dense that it sinks in saltwater, highlighting its exceptional hardness and density.
Further Information
- ARKive (mentioned as a source for photos and facts)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) - Final Listing, Endangered Determination of End. Status for Mezoneuron kavaiense. (Uhiuhi) Federal Register, Vol. 51, No.