Antidesma pulvinatum
Phyllanthaceae or Phyllanthus family
Synonyms: none
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Hame
Haʻā, Haʻāmaile, Hamehame, Mehame, Mehamehame
Natural Range & Environment
Antidesma pulvinatum is endemic to the dry to mesic forests (30-) 300-600(-1,220) m (100 to 4,000 ft) on Oʻahu (common in Waiʻanae Mts.; rare in Koʻolau Mts.), Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi (Maunalei Gulch), Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island [Wagner et al. 1990].
Hame female flowers, fruit, trunk, and male flowers on cultivated plants in Pearl City, Oʻahu. Alien birds such as bulbuls (Pycnonotus spp.) and spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) love to eat the ripe fruits.
Description
Hame are large, beautiful trees known for their vibrant foliage, which showcases an array of colors, including green, orange, red, bronze, and pink. These trees are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Based on observations of cultivated specimens, the blooming period extends from February to October. The flowers themselves are small and relatively inconspicuous. The berries are either reddish, dark purple, or blackish, measuring about one-fourth of an inch (6 mm) in diameter, which is significantly smaller than those of its sister species, Antidesma platyphyllum [Rock 1974].
The two species of hame—A. platyphyllum and A. pulvinatum can be differentiated by examining the leaves and leaf petioles (the segments that connect the leaves to the twigs). In A. platyphyllum, the leaf petioles are notably short and exhibit a nearly C-shaped curvature, whereas in A. pulvinatum, the petioles are straight and longer. Botanist Joel Lau showed me (Koebele) a way to identify this species by the tufts of hairs in the angles formed by the lower lateral veins and midrib on the underside of the leaf.
Growth Requirements
General
Hame is relatively easy to cultivate in urban environments, provided that you remain vigilant for signs of black twig borers. It does best in full sun and well-drained soil. Hame can be used as a focal or screen tree. Antidesma pulvinatum, in particular, thrives in drier conditions compared to A. platyphyllum and exhibits a remarkable tolerance to drought. It can be grown in containers with rich potting media, which should include black cinder. Potted plants will soon outgrow their containers and will need to be moved to a permanent site. If viable seeds are desired, you will need both male and female trees.
Pests and Diseases
Alien birds such as bulbuls (Pycnonotus spp.) and spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) love to eat the ripe fruits. Covering the fruits or bird netting can discourage birds from feeding on them. Young trees are more vulnerable to damage from pests such as mealybugs and aphids than their mature counterparts. If left unchecked, Chinese rose beetles can create unsightly holes in the leaves, resulting in a lacy appearance. However, the most destructive pest is the black twig borer. These tiny beetles, measuring just 1-2 mm, can rapidly inflict severe damage or destroy trees. It is crucial to apply a combination of insecticide and fungicide immediately upon detection to mitigate their impact. Refer to the Pests & Diseases page for treatments against these pests.
Uses
Ancient Hawaiian
Hame wood is exceptionally hard, strong, and durable. It is one of the heaviest native woods, even sinking in water. Early Hawaiians skillfully utilized this remarkable wood to craft a variety of tools, including kapa tools, hut beams, javelins, spears, digging sticks (ʻōʻō), and scraping boards for processing olonā (Touchardia latifolia) fibers [Medeiros 1998]. The vibrant red juice extracted from hame fruit, when combined with kamani oil (Calophyllum inophyllum), was employed to create a red dye for kapa cloth, particularly for the malo (loincloth) [Krauss 1993, Little Jr. & Skolmen 1989, Medeiros 1998]. Hawaiians also utilized the red-brown wood to manufacture kapa (tapa) beaters, which were essential for beating out olonā fibers, further showcasing the versatility of hame wood in traditional clothing production [Krauss 1993,Little Jr. & Skolmen 1989]. In addition to its practical applications, hame held medicinal value. The leaves were chewed and swallowed to alleviate vomiting spells, while the bark, when mixed with other plants, served as a wash for treating ulcers and scrofulous sores [Little Jr. & Skolmen 1989, Neal 1965]. It should be noted that while information may primarily pertain to one species, Antidesma playtphyllum and/or A. pulvinatum, it is likely applicable to the other species as well, given the similarities in their names and uses. Similar non-species-specifics are applied with the uses of kauila or kauwila Alphitonia ponderosa and Colubrina oppositifolia as referenced by [Abbott 1992, Krauss 1993, and Mederios 1998].
Modern
According to the book Common Forest Trees of Hawaii, hame wood is characterized by its reddish-brown hue, fine texture, and remarkable hardness and takes on a beautiful polish, making it suitable for fine cabinetwork, although it is not commonly available in commercial quantities. Notably, hame wood is resistant to marine borers and shipworms, and so it is suitable for constructing sea-worthy vessels [Little Jr. & Skolmen 1989].
Special Features and Information
General
Antidesma pulvinatum is a member of the Phyllanthus family or Phyllanthaceae along with another native species of hame (A. platyphyllum) and two other native endemics, such as pāmakani māhū (Phyllanthus distichus) and the extremely rare and endangered mēhamehame (Flueggea neowawraea), one of the largest native Hawaiian forest trees.
A close relative of hame, known in the Philippines as bignay or the current tree (Antidesma bunius), produces fruits tasting like unripe cranberries, but having a tart sweetness when fully ripe. Bignay is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, from the Philippines to northern Australia, and is enjoyed locally in various forms, including eating the fresh berries, preparation with fish, and as ingredients in jams, jellies, syrups, and even wine.
In South Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, botanist Joseph Rock identified intermediate plants between Antidesma platyphyllum and A. pulvinatum, which he classified as a putative hybrid known as Antidesma x kapuae. Hawaiʻi botanist Joel Lau suggests that this hybrid may also be found on Oʻahu, particularly in the Waiʻanae and southeastern Koʻolau Mountains, as well as on East Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and West and East Maui.
Fossils of Antidesma pulvinatum have been discovered within solidified volcanic ash from the volcanic vents in the Moanalua and Hālawa regions of Oʻahu, which include the craters of Āliapaʻakai, Āliamanu, and Makalapa, providing valuable insights into the geological history of the area [Joel Lau, Botanist].
Hawaiian Name
Mehamehame, a name for the Hawaiian Antidesma spp., is similar in spelling to Mēhamehame, but with kahakō over the first "e." Mēhamehame is the name of its very rare and critically endangered cousin, Flueggea neowawraea.
Etymology
The generic name, Antidesma, is derived from the Greek anti, meaning "against," and desma, meaning "band or constriction," but used by J. Burman, friend and correspondent of Carl Linnaeus, Swedish botanist, to mean "poison." So the name was intended to refer to the use of a plant in the genus (Antidesma venosum) as a traditional anti-venom for snakebites [Mogha 2022]. The specific epithet, pulvinatum, is from the Latin word pulvinatus, meaning "cushion-like or -shaped" [Gledhill 2008].
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