Rhus sandwicensis explained

Rhus sandwicensis, commonly known as neneleau, neleau or Hawaiian sumac, is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is small tree, reaching a height of 4.5- and a trunk diameter of 10-. Neneleau inhabits dry, coastal mesic, mixed mesic and wet forests at elevations of 180- on all main islands.

The Latin specific epithet of sandwicensis refers to the "Sandwich Islands," as the Hawaiian Islands were once called, and named by James Cook on one of his voyages in the 1770s. James Cook named the islands after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich for supporting Cook's voyages.^[1]

Uses

Neneleau wood was used by Native Hawaiians to make laʻau lomi lomi (massage sticks) and ʻumeke (calabashes).^[2]

Cultural significance

Neneleau is mentioned in the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Native Plants Hawaii - Viewing Plant : Nestegis sandwicensis . nativeplants.hawaii.edu . 21 January 2022.
2. Web site: Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest . A. C. . Medeiros . C.F. Davenport . C.G. Chimera . Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa . 1998 . 2008-04-11 . 35–36.