'Iliahi

santalum haleakalae

The 'Iliahi, or Haleakalā sandalwood (Santalum haleakalae), is a legendary and culturally significant tree endemic to the high-elevation volcanic slopes of Maui, Hawaii. Residing in the harsh subalpine zones, this resilient plant has adapted to intense solar radiation, extreme temperature swings, and dry conditions. It is famous for its highly aromatic heartwood, which historically fueled a lucrative and devastating sandalwood trade in the early 19th century that nearly drove Hawaii's sandalwood species to extinction. Today, 'Iliahi stands as a protected treasure of the Hawaiian highlands. What makes the 'Iliahi truly fascinating is its lifestyle as a hemiparasite. While it possesses green leaves to photosynthesize, its root system actively seeks out and penetrates the roots of neighboring plants to siphon off water and key nutrients. This complex ecological relationship makes the tree incredibly difficult to cultivate outside its natural habitat, emphasizing the critical importance of conserving its native subalpine ecosystem.

生息地: Found in dry to mesic subalpine shrublands and forests on the volcanic slopes of Haleakalā, Maui, at elevations between 1,800 and 2,700 meters.

外見

A multi-branched, slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree reaching heights of 200 to 600 centimeters. It features thick, leathery, and succulent-like oval leaves that are olive-green with a distinct pale or reddish margin. Its most striking feature is the dense clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that bloom in vibrant shades of bright red, orange-red, or deep pink. Following fertilization, it produces small, egg-shaped drupes that turn a dark purplish-black when ripe.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Santalales科Santalaceae属Santalum

'Iliahi

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

During the early 1900s, the intense royal monopoly and trade of Hawaiian sandalwood led to the near-total clearance of these mature trees across the islands.

The flowers of the 'Iliahi undergo a dramatic color change as they mature, shifting from a subtle greenish-yellow to a brilliant deep crimson.

Though 'Iliahi can photosynthesize on its own, it would struggle to survive without stealing water and minerals from the roots of its neighbors.

特殊能力

Forms specialized root structures called haustoria that tap into neighboring host plants to extract water and nutrients.

Features thick, leathery, waxy leaves that minimize water loss and protect the plant from freezing temperatures and intense UV radiation.

Synthesizes highly fragrant, dense sesquiterpene oils in its wood that act as a natural defense against decay and boring insects.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 200-600 cm
寿命: 50-150 年

食性と食事

As a hemiparasite, 'Iliahi generates its own energy through photosynthesis but relies on extracting water, nitrogen, and inorganic nutrients from the root systems of host plants.

年齢による違い: Initially relies on seed reserves as a seedling before developing the parasitic haustoria needed to attach to a host plant.

主な食物

Water
Host plant sap
Soil minerals
Carbon dioxide

採餌方法

Root Parasitism

生態系とのつながり

host plant

Māmane

Sophora chrysophylla

Santalum haleakalae parasitizes the root system of Sophora chrysophylla to absorb water and vital minerals in dry soils.

host plant

Pūkiawe

Leptecophylla tameiameiae

Santalum haleakalae utilizes Leptecophylla tameiameiae as a key host plant to sustain its water needs in subalpine shrublands.

mutualism

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Introduced honeybees visit the bright red flowers of 'Iliahi to gather nectar, assisting in the pollination of the tree.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

'Iliahiを見分けるには？

'Iliahiを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

'Iliahiの長さは何ですか？

200-600 cm

'Iliahiの寿命は何ですか？

50-150 年

'Iliahiは何を食べますか？

As a hemiparasite, 'Iliahi generates its own energy through photosynthesis but relies on extracting water, nitrogen, and inorganic nutrients from the root systems of host plants.

'Iliahiは通常どこに生息していますか？

Found in dry to mesic subalpine shrublands and forests on the volcanic slopes of Haleakalā, Maui, at elevations between 1,800 and 2,700 meters.

'Iliahiはどのように狩りをしますか？

Root Parasitism