Family: SAPINDACEAE
Genus: Sapindus
Species: oahuensis
Species Author: Hillebr. ex Radlk.
Vernacular: Ae, Lonomea, Aulu, Kaulu, Manele, Soapberry
Synonyms: Sapindus lonomea
Aulu trees are somewhat shorter than the soapberry (Sapindus saponaria), reaching heights of about 15m tall. Aulu leaves are simple and elliptical, 7.5-27 x 3-14.5 cm. The silky brown flowers are single sexed, with both sexes occurring on the same tree. The flowers are produced in panicles up to 10-20 cm long. Aulu fruits are brown to black and round when ripe, about 2-3 cm in diameter. The single large seed is 1.2-2 cm long and dark brown.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)
The seeds were used medicinally by the Hawaiians.
Aulu is endemic to the islands of Kaua'i and O'ahu. It grows in moist (mesic) to dry forests at elevations of 200 to 2,000 feet elevation. It occurs in northwestern Kaua'i in the Waimea Canyon complex, and on O'ahu in the Wai'anae Mountains and from Waimalu to Niu Valley in the Ko'olau Mountains.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)
The genus name “sapindus” comes from the combination of “sap” meaning soap and “Indus” meaning from India, where this use was first recorded. The fruit pulp of Sapindus saponaria contains saponins and was used as a soap substitute. The attractive brown seeds can be strung into lei.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)
Despite Aulu’s narrow range, the populations are considered stable and the species is not listed as being endangered.
We currently have 25 herbarium specimens for Sapindus oahuensis in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
- 079337 - collected by Derral Herbst in 1972
- 020240 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1982
- 020241 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1984
- 020239 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
- 036176 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
- S047726 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1990
- 014075 - collected by Patti Welton in 1991
- 019651 - collected by George Staples in 1995
- 033449 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1999
- 064793 - collected by W. L. Wagner in 2000
- 087243 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2002
- 047975 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
- Unassigned - collected by Tim Flynn in 2005
- 042841 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2005
- 061808 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2005
- 056100 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2007
- 048966 - collected by Clay Trauernicht in 2008
- 055843 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2008
- S061876 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2008
- 051041 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2010
- Unassigned - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- 089916 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- 089923 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- 091926 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
- 075954 - collected by Seana Walsh in 2017
