Psydrax (odorata)

Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net

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Family Scientific Name:	Rubiaceae
Family Common Name:	Coffee
Scientific Name:	Psydrax odorata (G. Forst.) A. C. Sm. & S. P. Darwin
Common Synonym:	Canthium odoratum (G. Forster) Seem.
Common Name:	alahe'e, 'ohe'e, walahe'e
Ecotype:	dry shrubland, and dry to moist forest, 10 - 860 m elevation
General Distribution:	Indigenous to all main Hawaiian islands except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe, and to Micronesia and the South Pacific from the New Hebrides and Noumea east to the Tuamotus.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Height: 20 cm, Stem diameter: 8 mm
Propagule Collection:	Alahe'e produces a large amount of seeds on an annual basis. The ripe fruits are about 10 mm in diameter, black and juicy when ripe. Fruit ripens generally in the late fall and winter. Inside each fruit there are usually two hard seeds. A boring insect damages most of the fruit; the damaged seeds are usually not viable, and therefore should be discarded (bore holes are evident on damaged seeds). Often up to 90%of the fruit is damaged.
Propagule Processing:	To process the seeds, remove the juicy pulp by hand. Washing in several water baths will help separate the pulp from the seeds; floating seeds should also be removed. Air dry the seeds in shaded conditions. Remove seeds that contain bore holes. Using fresh seed is best, however, the seeds can be stored a few weeks in a paper bag in a cool room. Some viability may be retained after storage at 39 degrees F and 10% moisture.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Alahe'e seeds require no pretreatment to germinate. Before sowing, soak the seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours. Germination may be increased for certain seedlots by first soaking the seeds in a 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution for 2-3 minutes, then rinsing well.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Germinate the seeds in trays filled with 1 part peat to 1 part perlite. Transplant very carefully to individual containers at the 4 leaf stage. A rain-protected but sunlit area is necessary for germination in trays (such as a cold-frame with clear film roof). After the germination and early establishment phase, light shade to full sun is used for growing out the individual seedlings in containers. A growth medium of 2 parts peat, 1 part black cinder, amended with a little compost, dolomite lime, gypsum, and micronutrients and slow-release fertilizer such as osmocote 14-14-14 is used. Andersen Band Pots 2 3/8" by 5" inches deep or other root-training containers of similar or greater volume (164 ml) work well. Potting media should also be inoculated with VAM (mycorrhizal fungi), available from commercial suppliers and garden centers. Once the seedlings reach 15-20 cm, they can be moved up to larger root training containers, or outplanted.
Establishment Phase:	Sprinkle the seeds over a mix consisting of 1 part peat and 1 part perlite. Cover with the same mix to a depth of about 10 mm. Keep moist with a fine spray head. Some light (partial shade) is recommended. Germination generally takes 30 days or longer for certain seedlots. Relatively low germination is common, 5 - 50%.
Length of Establishment Phase:	6 - 8 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Alahe'e is slow to start. Seedlings should be grown in light shade or full sun. Keep seedlings well spaced apart to allow maximum penetration of sunlight and air circulation. In some cases, amending with additional fertilizer such as a light top dressing of Gro-More 8-8-8 will aid in growth and development. Over-fertilization with nitrogen can lead to aphid and scale infestations (as with alahe'e's relative, coffee), which should be treated with insecticidal soap and a reduction in nitrogen fertilizer.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	7 months
Hardening Phase:	Space seedlings out further if necessary. Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out, but watering frequency may be reduced to introduce seedlings to temporary, moderate water stress. If fertilization is necessary during the hardening phase, N fertilizer should be minimized or eliminated, with emphasis on P, K, and micronutrients.
Length of Hardening Phase:	1 month
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	When seedlings have reached target size, they may be delivered to the planting site. Keeping them in their containers help protect the roots and allows the plants to stand up in cardboard boxes. Seedlings must be protected from wind and excessive heat during transport, but refrigeration is not recommended.
References:	Bornhorst, Heidi L. 1996. Growing native Hawaiian plants: a How-to Guide for the Gardener. The Bess Press, Honolulu. Little, Elbert L. and Roger G. Skolmen. 1989. Common Forest Trees of Hawai`i (Native and Introduced). United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 679. National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). 1990. Plant of the Month: Alahe'e. Hawaii Plant Conservation Center, NTBG, Lawai, HI National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). 1996. Ten native Hawaiian trees for urban landscapes. Lawai, Hawaii. University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. 2001. Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database. Honolulu, HI. Web: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/psy-odor.htm Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. 2 vols., Bishop Museum Special Publication 83. University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. Honolulu.

Citation:

Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Psydrax odorata (G. Forst.) A. C. Sm. & S. P. Darwin plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.