Name:
Pouteria sandwicensis - Antidesma pulvinatum - Pandanus tectorius Lowland-Coastal Seasonal Rainforest Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This tropical lowland mesic and seasonally wet forest group occurs on Hawai`i, Moloka`i, Maui, Kaua`i, O`ahu, and includes inland and coastal forests. Vegetation is variable, ranging from an open to dense tree canopy of mostly evergreen trees 2-20 m tall. These forests often have diverse tree canopy, subcanopy and tall-shrub layers with lianas. As with lowland dry woodlands, tree diversity is very high. <i>Metrosideros polymorpha</i> is very common, but many other species may dominate or codominate, including <i>Acacia koa, Antidesma pulvinatum, Charpentiera</i> spp., <i>Cryptocarya mannii, Diospyros sandwicensis, Nestegis sandwicensis, Pisonia umbellifera, Pittosporum confertiflorum, Pleomele</i> spp., <i>Pouteria sandwicensis</i>, and <i>Pritchardia kaalae</i>. Coastal area are dominated by <i>Pandanus tectorius</i> with other trees present such as <i>Metrosideros polymorpha</i> and low cover of Polynesian-introduced <i>Aleurites moluccanus</i> or <i>Thespesia populnea</i>. Also included in this group are the highly fragmented <i>Pritchardia</i> coastal forests, which occur on windward sea cliffs of Moloka`i, Huelo Islet, and Nihoa Island in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Diagnostic species of this group include the trees <i>Antidesma pulvinatum, Cryptocarya mannii, Alectryon macrococcus, Charpentiera</i> spp., <i>Flueggea neowawraea, Rhus sandwicensis, Pisonia</i> spp., <i>Pritchardia hillebrandii, Pritchardia kaalae</i> and shrub and vine species <i>Ctenitis squamigera, Doodia</i> spp., <i>Lipochaeta succulenta</i>, and <i>Strongylodon ruber</i>. The understory is variable and may be dominated by sedges and ferns or shrubs. Tree ferns (<i>Cibotium</i> spp.) are typically absent. Common shrubs and vines include <i>Alyxia stellata, Cyanea</i> spp., <i>Delissea</i> spp., <i>Dodonaea viscosa, Eugenia</i> spp., <i>Freycinetia arborea, Hedyotis</i> spp., <i>Lipochaeta succulenta, Lobelia</i> spp., <i>Styphelia tameiameiae</i>, and <i>Vaccinium dentatum</i>. Common ferns and fern allies present are <i>Asplenium nidus, Dicranopteris linearis, Pteris</i> spp., and graminoids include <i>Carex</i> spp. Exotic trees <i>Morella faya, Psidium</i> spp., and <i>Schinus terebinthifolius</i> are often present in disturbed stands. Fire-adapted exotic grasses such as <i>Oplismenus hirtellus</i> and <i>Pennisetum setaceum</i> are invasive and threaten these forests by increasing fire intensity, frequency and size. This group occurs along coasts and inland areas of the main Hawaiian Islands on mesic slopes from 5 to 1500 m (15-4920 feet) elevation, but typically less than 1000 m (3280 feet). A few representatives can be found in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Stands are found in the mesic, seasonal wet zone between the dry leeward and wet windward climates. Coastal forests also occur on windward sides where they intercept sufficient orographic rainfall to maintain a forest condition, yet are influenced strongly by coastal factors such as salt spray. These forests are considered mesic and too dry to support true rainforests, but typically do not experience extended periods of drought like the dry forests and woodlands. These mesic sites have relatively even, moderate precipitation throughout the year or have a distinct, seasonally dry period. Annual rainfall is 1200-2500 mm (47-98 inches) and falls largely from October to March. Substrates are highly variable but are generally well-drained and include steep, rocky talus, shallow to deep soils over weathered rock and gravelly alluvium, rocky shallow organic muck.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40118-{4956A489-6E2B-44BE-A68C-DB0FD22F2578}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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