Hawaiian Name(s): alani, alani kuahiwi

Scientific Name: Melicope (47 species)

Vernacular Name: none

Family: Rutaceae

Status: endemic

Authority: M. adscendens (H.St.John & E.P.Hume) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. anisata (H.Mann) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. balloui (Rock) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. barbigera A.Gray, M. christophersenii (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. cinerea A.Gray, M. clusiifolia (A.Gray) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. cruciata (A.Heller) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. degeneri (B.C.Stone) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. elliptica A.Gray, M. feddei (H.Lev.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. haleakalae (B.C.Stone) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. haupuensis (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. hawaiensis (Wawra) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. honoluluensis (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. kaalaensis (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. kavaiensis (H.Mann) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. knudsenii (Hillebr.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. lydgatei (Hillebr.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. macropus (Hillebr.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. makahae (B.C.Stone) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. molokaiensis T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. mucronulata (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. munroi (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. nealae (B.C.Stone) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. oahuensis (H.Lev.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. obovata (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. orbicularis (Hillebr.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. ovalis (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. ovata (H.St.John & E.P.Hume) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. pallida (Hillebr.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. paniculata (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. mauii T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. peduncularis (H.Lev.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. pseudoanisata (Rock) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. puberla (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. quadrangularis (H.St.John & E.P.Hume) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. radiata (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. reflexa (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. rotundifolia (A.Gray) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. saint-johnii (E.P.Hume) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. sandwicensis (Hook. & Arn.) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. volcanica (A.Gray) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. waialealae (Wawra) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. wailauensis (H.St.John) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. wawraeana (Rock) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone, M. zahlbruckneri (Rock) T.G.Hartley & B.C.Stone

Description: Shrubs/trees, to 10 m.

Habitat Habitats vary by species, some very retricted in distribution, some extinct (see Wagner et al. 1990:1183–1208 and 1705–1707 for details, as genus Pelea).

Medicines: The leaves were used as a cosmetic for the skin and faces of young chiefs (la‘au ho‘o‘ui‘ui). Portions of leaf buds are used for ‘ea and pa‘ao‘ao. The bark is used as a la‘au ho‘oma‘ema‘e koko (blood purifier) (Chun 1994:42).

Non Medicinal Uses: Wood of some species use as kapa beaters, canoe trim, & rigging, mokihana (Kaua‘i only) fruits for lei (see Lamb 1981:53–9), wood also scented (Little & Skolmen 1989:156–9; Malo 1996:154), used in canoe making (Malo 1951:21) says poles used in rigging. Chun (1994:41–2) notes that alani is for chiefs, not commoners.

Specific gravity of wood: unknown

Famous Locations:

Mele:

`Ōlelo Noeau:

Dye Color and Parts:

Kino lau:

Location on Bishop Museum Kalihi Campus:

Propagation Information: Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database.
Native Plants Hawaii.

Seed: Seed length approximately 4.3 mm. Photograph: B.Kennedy. Species: M. honoluluensis.
Click for image