Osteomeles anthyllidifolia

In today's world, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide spectrum of people. Whether due to its impact on society, its implications in everyday life or its relevance in history, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia has positioned itself as a central point in current discussions and debates. As we explore this topic further, it is important to analyze all its facets and consider its influence on different aspects of our lives. This article seeks to delve into Osteomeles anthyllidifolia from different perspectives and offer a broad and complete vision of its importance and relevance in today's world.

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Osteomeles
Species:
O. anthyllidifolia
Binomial name
Osteomeles anthyllidifolia
Synonyms[2]
  • Pyrus anthyllidifolia Sm.

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, commonly called ʻŪlei, eluehe, uʻulei, Hawaiian rose, or Hawaiian hawthorn, is a species of flowering shrub in the rose family, Rosaceae, that is indigenous to Hawaiʻi (all islands but Kahoʻolawe and Niʻihau), the Cook Islands, Tonga, Pitcairn Island, and Rapa Iti,[3] Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.[4][1]

Description

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia grows as either an erect shrub that reaches 3 metres (9.8 ft) or a spreading shrub. The compound leaves are alternately arranged on branches and divided into 15–25 leaflets. The small, oblong leaflets are 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long and 0.7 centimetres (0.28 in) wide. White flowers with five 7–11-millimetre (0.28–0.43 in) petals form clusters of three to six on the ends of branches. The fruit is white when ripe, 1.0 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter, and contains yellow seeds that are 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) in diameter.[3]

Habitat

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia can be found in dry to mesic forests, shrublands, coastal areas, and lava plains at elevations of 2–2,320 metres (6.6–7,611.5 ft).[5] It is a ruderal species, able to effectively compete with other plants on disturbed sites.[6]

Uses

Medicinal

The leaves and root bark are used on deep cuts; the seeds and buds are used as a laxative for children.[7]

Non-medicinal

The wood of a mature Osteomeles anthyllidifolia is very strong, and Native Hawaiians used it to make ʻō (harpoons) with which they caught heʻe (octopuses).[8] Ihe paheʻe (javelins), ihe (spears), ʻōʻō (digging sticks),[5] hohoa (round kapa beaters) ʻiʻe kūkū (square kapa beaters), ʻūkēkē (musical bows), and ʻauamo (carrying sticks) were also made from the wood. Young, flexible O. anthyllidifolia branches were fashioned into the hoops of ʻaʻei. These were 25-foot (7.6 m) bag nets that were used in conjunction with kalo (taro) as bait to catch schools of ʻōpelu (Decapterus macarellus).[9] The fruit is edible and was used to make a lavender dye.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Osteomeles anthyllidifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  2. ^ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 14 October 2015
  3. ^ a b "Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (Rosaceae)". Meet the Plants. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  4. ^ Gu Cuizhi (Ku Tsue-chih) and Stephen A. Spongberg (2003), "Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (Smith) Lindley, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 13: 99. 1821", Flora of China online, vol. 9
  5. ^ a b c "ʻulei, uulei, eluehe (Molokai)". Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  6. ^ "Osteomeles anthyllidifolia". Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  7. ^ Akana, Akaiko (1922). Hawaiian Herbs of Medicinal Value. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi: Pacific Book House. p. 38.
  8. ^ Krauss, Beatrice H. (1993). Plants in Hawaiian Culture. University of Hawaiʻi Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-8248-1225-6.
  9. ^ Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998). "Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest" (PDF). Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.