Hawaiian Name(s): a‘e, māneleScientific Name: Sapindus saponaria
Vernacular Name: soapberry
Family: Sapindaceae
Status: indigenous
Authority: L.
Description: Tree, up to 25 m tall; bark pale brown.
Habitat Occurs in mesic forest 900–1370 m (Hualalai, Mauna Loa, & Kilauea, Hawai‘i) (Wagner et al. 1990:1229).
Medicines:
Non Medicinal Uses: Seeds strung into lei and necklaces (Krauss 1993:78). Hard wood used for spears & other purposes (Malo 1951:22)
Specific gravity of wood: 0.8
Famous Locations:
Mele:
`Ōlelo Noeau:
Dye Color and Parts:
Kino lau:
Location on Bishop Museum Kalihi Campus:
Propagation Information: Easy. Grown from seeds, should be nicked w/ a file (scarified) or soaked; climate adaptable (Bornhorst 1996:55–56; Bornhorst and Rauch 1994:14–15; Culliney and Koebele 1999:53–54; Nagata 1992:1993 addendum).
Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database.
Native Plants Hawaii.
Seed: Seed length approximately 10 mm. Photograph: B.Kennedy.
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Microscopy
Cross Section: Field of view: 2.6 mm x 1.6 mm. Photograph: H.Lennstrom
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Radial Section: Field of view: 2.6 mm x 1.6 mm. Photograph: H.Lennstrom
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Tangential Section: Field of view: 2.6 mm x 1.6 mm. Photograph: H.Lennstrom
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