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Plant Profile

Alani (Melicope mucronulata)

Melicope mucronulata is one of the most endangered plants on Earth. Several years ago one specimen was known to exist anywhere on Earth, in the wild. (a second was known not far away in an arboretum) Now, thank to the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership (LHWRP) it has started a comeback. Photo Credit: Ben Pittenger © 2007
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Rutaceae
  • State: HI
  • Nature Serve ID: 141864
  • Lifeform: Tree
  • Date Inducted in National Collection:
Description:

M. mucronulata is a small tree species with bright green, oval leaves and flowers organized in axillary inflorescences along its stems. Collectively, native Melicope species throughout the Hawaiian islands are referred to as "alani".

Where is Alani (Melicope mucronulata) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This taxon grows on steep, west- or north-facing slops in lowland dry to mesic forests. It prefers rich soil with plenty of leaf litter and terrestrial moss cover.

Distribution:

Currently, this member of the citrus family can be observed on state-owned land on Moloka`i. Historically, it was found on Maui also, but has not been observed since 1983. It can grow at elevations up to 900 meters.

States & Provinces:

Alani can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve Alani (Melicope mucronulata)?

  • Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 10/10/2020
      • Living Collection

    The Lyon Arboretum is in possession of one seeding in their greenhouse and one seedling in their lab as of 2006.

    • 10/10/2020
      • Reintroduction

    One individual was outplanted by the NTBG for genetic storage and two were transferred and are growing at the Kalaupapa National Historic Monument on Moloka`i.

    • 10/10/2020
      • Propagation Research

    20 seed collections were made by field botanists of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and only three M. mucronulata plants were successfully cultivated in their greenhouse as of 2006

    • 10/10/2020
      • Seed Collection

    20 seed collections were made by field botanists of the National Tropical Botanical Garden

    Clarice Mendoza
    • 09/21/2017

    The coffee twig borer has infested individuals of this taxon over time and has been observed as a problem even in the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Endemic moth larvae have also been observed to feed this genus' flowers and seeds, so that may have some impact on this species' survival. Rats predate on their seeds, preventing seedlings from arising.

    Clarice Mendoza
    • 09/21/2017

    20 seed collections were made by field botanists of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and only three M. mucronulata plants were successfully cultivated in their greenhouse as of 2006. One individual was outplanted by the NTBG for genetic storage and two were transferred and are growing at the Kalaupapa National Historic Monument on Moloka`i.The Lyon Arboretum is in possession of one seeding in their greenhouse and one seedling in their lab as of 2006.

    Clarice Mendoza
    • 09/21/2017

    There are three individuals left in the Kupaia Gulch on the island Moloka`i. The individuals on Maui are believed to be extinct.

    Nellie Sugii
    • 01/01/2010

    Fire, competition with alien plants, habitat degradation by feral pigs and goats, and the small numbers of extant individuals are this species' main ecological threats.

    Nellie Sugii
    • 01/01/2010

    There are ten individuals among two current populations.

    MORE

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Melicope mucronulata
    Authority (H. St. John) T.G. Hartley & B.C. Stone
    Family Rutaceae
    CPC Number 3169
    ITIS 196036
    USDA MEMU4
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Alani
    Associated Scientific Names Pelea mucronulata | Melicope mucronulata
    Distribution Currently, this member of the citrus family can be observed on state-owned land on Moloka`i. Historically, it was found on Maui also, but has not been observed since 1983. It can grow at elevations up to 900 meters.
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Hawaii S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Melicope mucronulata is one of the most endangered plants on Earth. Several years ago one specimen was known to exist anywhere on Earth, in the wild. (a second was known not far away in an arboretum) Now, thank to the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership (LHWRP) it has started a comeback. Photo Credit: Ben Pittenger © 2007

    Melicope mucronulata Two years before I took this photo only one specimen of this plant was known to exist in the wild on Earth. [One other plant was known to exist in a local arboretum. So 2 specimens were known to exist on Earth.] Thanks to the incredible dedication of a small number of very hard working visionary people who collected seeds and propagated new plants, with the dream to reestablish a decimated forest, there now are approximately 10. This photo shows new growth on an alani that was planted about 2 years ago. This is not the only species being protected and resurrected by the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership . Update: The above was written six years ago. There now is a growing population. I haven't been back for a while, but last time I looked into it there were around 60 plants growing. By now I expect many more. I seem to recall there have even been some 'volunteers' that have propagated by seed, without human intervention. Shot RAW, Cropped, and saved through Mac Preview as jpg, but otherwise no color editing. Photo Credit: Ben Pittenger © 2007

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