Sapindus saponaria L., Sapindaceae

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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: a‘e, mānele

Mangarevan: tutai kiore

Maori (Cook Islands): akeake

Other: cheritah

Spanish: jaboncillo

Tahitian: koku‘u

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 Hawai‘i, "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 (2011)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	native	McCormack, Gerald (2011)
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. (2011)
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. (2011)
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. (2011) 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. (2011) 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. (2011) 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. (2011) 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. (2011)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011)
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. (2011) 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. (2011) Voucher cited: J. Florence 12035 (PAP)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011)
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. (2011)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a 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. (2011)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	native	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (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
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) 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)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2011) 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 (2010)

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. (2011) 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.).

Additional information:
Fact sheet from "Common forest trees of Hawaii" (PDF format).

Additional online information about Sapindus saponaria is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Sapindus saponaria as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Sapindus saponaria may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France. 2010. Les espéces envahissantes en outre-mer (online resource).

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Little, Elbert L./Skolmen, Roger G. 1989. Common forest trees of Hawaii (native and introduced). USDA Agriculture Handbook 679. Washington, D.C. 377 pp. + plates.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2011. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

McMullen, C. K. 1999. Flowering plants of the Galápagos. Comstock Pub. Assoc., Ithaca, N.Y. 370 p.

Merrill, Elmer D. 1923. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants, vol. 2 [reprint]. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 530 pp.

Sachet, M.-H. 1962. Geography and land ecology of Clipperton Island. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 86. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 115 pp.

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

St. John, H. 1987. An account of the flora of Pitcairn Island with new Pandanus species. Pacific Plant Studies 46. Honolulu, 65 pp. [Privately published].

St. John, Harold. 1988. Census of the Flora of the Gambier Islands, Polynesia. Pacific Plant Studies 43. Honolulu, Hawaii. 34 pp. [Privately published].

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Wiggins, I. L./Porter, D. M. 1971. Flora of the Galapágos Islands. Stanford University Press. 998 pp.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).