Family Euphorbiaceae

Native to India, China, and the South Pacific.

Photos: Tantalus, Oahu.

Weed Risk Assessment 7 (High) Not recommended for introduction to new areas in Hawaii or the Pacific.

Family Fabaceae (Mimosoideae).

Native to the western coast of Mexico to the northern coast of Panama.

First photo: Philippines.

Leaves used for fodder and soil fertility enhancement. Wood used for fuel.

Weed Risk Assessment Score: 1(Low).

Family Clusiaceae (syn. Guttiferae).

Native to tropical Africa, East India, and eastern Polynesia and Micronesia.

Special areas in Hawaii: Waimea Arboretum, Iolani Palace.

Wood used in Hawaii for turned and carved craftwood, elsewhere for general construction, boat building, cabinetmaking and railroad crossties. An oil is extracted from the nuts and used medicinally in Pacific Island cultures.

Weed Risk Assessment 6 (evaluate further).

Family Casuarinaceae.

Native to Australia. Photo of a windbreak on Hawaii Island.

Used in Hawaii for windbreaks at higher elevations. Wood used for fuel.

Weed Risk Assessment Score: 12 (Pest) Not recommended for introduction to new areas in Hawaii.

Family Casuarinaceae.

Native to Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papau New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu.

Wood used for fuel, building poles, sawn or hewn building timber, wall panelling, shingles, exterior fittings, fences, railway sleepers, woodware, tool handles, boats, pulp, textiles, and cellulose derivitives.

Lower photos: comparison of C. glauca (left) and C. equisetifolia (right), Hilo, Hawaii; windswept tree on Kauai, Hawaii.

Weed Risk Assessment Score: 15 (Pest) Not recommended for introduction to new areas in Hawaii.

Family Casuarinaceae.

Native to Australia.

Photos from Hilo, Hawaii.

Wood used for fuel, posts, sawn or hewn building timber, flooring, exterior fittings, fences, woodware, tool handles, turnery, wood based material, particleboard.

Prolific root sprouts.

This species not yet evaluated by the Hawaii Weed Risk Assessment, but other Casuarinas have scored as weedy. 

Family Meliaceae.

Native throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Wood used for light construction, posts, building timber, carpentry, joinery, wall panelling, fences, containers, woodware, cutlery, musical instruments, turnery, furniture, veneers, boats, wood based material, plywood, particle board.

Top photos: eight year old trees in Ookala, Hawaii. Canopy of tree showing seed capsules during winter deciduous period. Middle photo: Large tree in Makiki, Oahu. Photo by Bart Potter.

Weed Risk Assessment Score: 2 (Evaluate further).

Family Boraginaceae.

Native through Indian Ocean to Pacific Islands.

Beach photo: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Lower photo: large diameter tree at UH campus, Manoa, Hawaii.

Special areas: Waimea Arboretum, Foster, Iolani Palace.

Wood used for crafts, bowls, cups and dishes. Favored for calabashes in pre-Western Hawaii.

Weed Risk Assessment -3 (OK).

Family Taxodiaceae.

Native to Japan and China.

Introduced to Hawaii in the late 1880's.

Wood used for construction, paneling, furniture and fence posts.

Weed Risk Assessment Score: -3 (OK)

Family Taxodiaceae.

Native to China.

Special area: Volcano village.

Planted in forest reserves and as a windbreak at higher elevations. Photos from Hawaii Island.

Family Cupressaceae.

Native to Mexico, long planted in Portugal.

Planted as a windbreak and ornamental. Young trees used as Christmas trees.

Weed Risk Assessment Score 6 (Low).

Family Cupressaceae.

Native to California.

Planted in Hawaii for timber and as a windbreak and ornamental. Wood used for general construction.

Planted the Forest Reserves on all islands at higher elevations. Special areas: Kokee (Kauai), Olinda (Maui), Waimea (Hawaii), and Volcano Village (Hawaii).