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Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details
Psydrax odorata
Click on any heading above to view more information about this plant
Conservation Status
- IUCN: least concern
- USFWS: None
Family: RUBIACEAE
Genus: Psydrax
Species: odorata
Species Author: (Forst. f.) A. C. Sm. & S. P. Darwin
Vernacular: Alahee, Ohee, Walahee
Synonyms: Canthium lucidum, Canthium odoratum, Coffea odorata, Plectronia odorata, Canthium lucidum
Genus: Psydrax
Species: odorata
Species Author: (Forst. f.) A. C. Sm. & S. P. Darwin
Vernacular: Alahee, Ohee, Walahee
Synonyms: Canthium lucidum, Canthium odoratum, Coffea odorata, Plectronia odorata, Canthium lucidum
Psydrax odorata is a shrub or small tree ranging in height from 2 to 10 meters, but spreading only 1 to 2.5 m in width. The elliptical leaves are glossy green on the top surface and up to 9 cm long. The small, white flowers are fragrant and are born in clusters up to 3.5 cm long. The fruits of alahe`e are between 0.5 and 1 cm in diameter, more or less round, and black at maturity. The fruits generally ripen in the late fall and winter and contain one or two seeds.
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i)
Hawaiians used the hard wood for digging sticks and extracted a black dye from the leaves. The fragrant flowers and the seed are used for lei.
(Krauss, B.H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.)
(Krauss, B.H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture.)
The Alahe'e is indigenous to Hawai'i and is found on all the major Hawaiian Islands except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe. It is also found on the islands of Micronesia, Fiji and Southern Polynesia. Alahe'e grows in lowland areas and in moist forests. It may also be seen growing on lava flows.
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i)
(Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R. and Sohmer, S. H. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i)
- 029465 - collected by V. J. Krajina in 1961
- 049282 - collected by V. J. Krajina in 1962
- 029452 - collected by V. J. Krajina in 1962
- 008873 - collected by B. G. Decker in 1963
- 052480 - collected by Elbert L. Little, Jr. in 1968
- 018554 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1972
- 018552 - collected by John J. Fay in 1973
- 078984 - collected by M.-H. Sachet in 1975
- 008874 - collected by M.-H. Sachet in 1975
- 008265 - collected by R. L. Oliver in 1975
- 008270 - collected by R. L. Oliver in 1975
- 008443 - collected by J.-C. Thibault in 1975
- 018553 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1981
- 012329 - collected by Gordon McPherson in 1983
- 018548 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
- 018555 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
- 018551 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
- 018556 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
- 018549 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1988
- 027151 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1988
- 009220 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1988
- 008301 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1988
- 027217 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1988
- 018550 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1988
- 018547 - collected by Michael Kiehn & Monika Kiehn in 1989
- 002806 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1990
- 016492 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1991
- 016504 - collected by Jacques Florence in 1991
- 014440 - collected by Melany H. Chapin in 1993
- 021249 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1995
- 024165 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1995
- 021354 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1995
- 021357 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1995
- 018208 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1995
- S046626 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1996
- 026346 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1997
- 029371 - collected by Cori M. Morenburg in 1997
- 024017 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1997
- 029891 - collected by Michael Kiehn in 1999
- 034417 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2001
- 042137 - collected by Timothy J. Motley in 2002
- 041991 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2002
- 051929 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2002
- 039516 - collected by Jon Price in 2003
- 039462 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2003
- Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2005
- 058453 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2005
- 055123 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
- 047477 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
- 058093 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2007
- 047483 - collected by Mary Merello in 2008
- 056321 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2009
- 072655 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2009
- 066662 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
- 072827 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2011
- 060376 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
- 070409 - collected by Hank Oppenheimer in 2012
- 064860 - collected by J.C. Watson in 2012
- 076215 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
- 072661 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2013
- 089518 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2013
- 085406 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2014
- 085065 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2014
- 091925 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- Unassigned - collected by Merlin Edmonds in 2014
- 095250 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
- 095249 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
- 081238 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2015
- 070827 - collected by Susan M. Deans in 2015
- 077680 - collected by Seana Walsh in 2016
- 077435 - collected by Katherine Ralston in 2017
- 079934 - collected by Barbara Kennedy in 2017
- 082141 - collected by Randy Umetsu in 2018
- 079147 - collected by Barbara Kennedy in 2018
- 080283 - collected by Allen Allison in 2018
- 094241 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2024
We currently have 76 herbarium specimens for Psydrax odorata in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
