L., Sapindaceae |
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Common name(s): [more details]
Chinese: wu huan zi |
English: cherry tart, sapindus, soap seed, soapberry, soaptree, wing-leaf soapberry |
French: bois de panama, savonnier |
Hawaiian: ae, mānele |
Mangarevan: tutai kiore |
Maori (Cook Islands): akeake |
Other: cheritah |
Spanish: jaboncillo |
Tahitian: kokuu |
Habit: tree
Description: "Deciduous trees up to 25 m tall; bark pale brown, fissured and falling off in large scales from mature trees. Leaves even-pinnately compound, leaflets 3-6 pairs, opposite or alternate, chartaceous, oblong-elliptic, slightly falcate, 6-16 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, upper surface glabrous, lower surface moderately tomentose to puberulent, margins entire, slightly undulate, apex acuminate, base rounded, rachis winged in young leaves, petioles 3-5 cm long. Flowers in terminal, tomentose panicles to 10-20 cm long, pedicels 1-3.5 mm long; sepals unequal, outer ones ovate, 1.5-1.8 mm long, pubescent at least at base, inner ones suborbicular, ca. 2.5 mm long, pubescent, minutely ciliate; petals subequal, obovate to suborbicular-obovate, strongly concave, ca. 2 mm long, ciliate; staminal filaments ca. 1 mm long, pubescent at base; ovary 2-3-celled, glabrous; stigma lobes blunt. Fruit of 1 (2-3) fleshy, globose mericarps 1.7-2 cm long, pericarp coriaceous. Seed dark reddish brown to black, 1-1.2 cm long, testa without a tuft of hairs at base" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1229).
Habitat/ecology: In Hawaii, "scattered in mesic forest, 900-1,370 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1229). Moist uplands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 58).
Propagation: Seed
Native range: "Mexico and South America west across the Pacific Basin on a number of islands to New Caledonia, also in Africa" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1229).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Chile (offshore islands)
Rapa Nui (Easter) Island |
Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua) |
native
|
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 590) |
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands |
Mangaia Island |
native
|
McCormack, Gerald (2013) |
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands |
Mauke Island |
native
|
McCormack, Gerald (2013) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Floreana Group |
Floreana Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group |
Isabela Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group |
Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group |
Volcán Wolf, Isabela Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
San Cristóbal Group |
San Cristóbal Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Santa Cruz Group |
Santa Cruz Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Santiago Group |
Santiago Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
French Polynesia
Clipperton Island |
Clipperton (Arue, Avera) Island | Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 93) | |
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands |
Kamaka Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands |
Mangareva (Gambier) Island |
native
|
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 590) |
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands |
Mangareva (Gambier) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands |
Mangareva (Gambier) Island |
native
|
St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 18)
Voucher cited: Fosberg 11359 (BISH) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Eiao Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J. Florence, S.P. Perlman & M. Teikiteetini 9352 (PAP), J.-C. Thibault 1013 (PAP), J.-C. Thibault 1069 (PAP), J.-C. Thibault 1065 (PAP) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Hiva Oa Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J. Florence 6658 (PAP), M.-H. Sachet 1219 (PAP) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Hiva Oa Island |
National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1963) (voucher ID: PTBG 13243)
Taxon name on voucher: Sapindus saponaria |
|
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Mohotani (Mohotane, Mohotane) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: B.G. Decker 2802 (PAP) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Vouchers cited: J. Florence 6917 (PAP), J. Florence 7540 (PAP), J. Florence 8382 (PAP), B. Toutain 4270 (PAP) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island |
National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 41275)
Taxon name on voucher: Sapindus saponaria |
|
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island |
National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 42204)
Taxon name on voucher: Sapindus saponaria L. |
|
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: S.P. Perlman, K.R. Wood & J.-P. Kautai 15936 (PAP) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Bora Bora Island |
probably native
|
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 262)
Voucher cited: BRY 26089 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Bora Bora Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 12035 (PAP) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Huahine Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Moorea Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
probably native
|
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 262)
Vouchers cited: Moore 406, BRY 26089 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahaa Island |
probably native
|
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 262)
Voucher cited: St. John 17383 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
probably native
|
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 262)
Voucher cited: Grant 4360 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands |
Rimatara (Rimitara) Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands |
Rurutu Island |
native
|
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Hawaii (Big) Island |
native
|
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1229) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia |
New Caledonia Islands |
native
|
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 590) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago |
Île Grande Terre |
introduced
cultivated |
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 127)
Voucher cited: MacKee 42193 |
Philippines
Philippine Islands |
Philippine Islands |
Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 498)
In secondary forests at low and medium altitudes, locally common. |
|
Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Islands |
Pitcairn Island |
native
|
St. John, H. (1987) (p. 40)
Vouchers cited: St. John 15021, St. John & D. Anderson 15050, Fosberg 11331 |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Costa Rica (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
El Salvador (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Guatemala (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Nicaragua (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Panama (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
introduced
cultivated |
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Usually cultivated by temples, in gardens, and alongside villages. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang |
China
China |
Hong Kong |
native
|
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 195) |
Mexico
Mexico |
Mexico (United Mexican States) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Colombia |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Perú (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Taiwan
Taiwan Island |
Taiwan Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Usually cultivated by temples, in gardens, and alongside villages. |
Indian Ocean | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
French Territory of Mayotte
Mayotte Islands |
Mayotte Island |
introduced
invasive |
Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) |
Seychelles
Seychelles Islands |
Seychelles Islands |
introduced
|
Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017) |
Also reported from | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states) |
United States (other states) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Florida, Georgia |
Comments: While considered to be native on a number of Pacific islands, it is thought to be introduced in the Galápagos Islands as it only occurs on inhabited and formerly inhabited islands (Chris Buddenhagen, pers. com.).
Control: If you know of control methods for Sapindus saponaria, please let us know.