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Download jerusalem thorn - Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)
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Big Island Invasive Species Committee Early Detection Target If found call 961-3299 JERUSALEM THORN Parkinsonia aculeata Mamane Alejandro Romero Fruit: Purplish brown to tan lumpy pods to 6" long, containing small, dark brown seeds Flowers: Yellow, five petaled, with orange to red spots, in loose clusters TREE Mesquite Leaves: Long, thin, olive green, needle-like to 10" long Forest and Kim Starr Forest and Kim Starr Description: Small to medium sized tree, to 30' tall, spiny with green bark Don’t confuse with these look alikes: Forest and Kim Starr Forest and Kim Starr BIISC Forest and Kim Starr Present JERUSALEM THORN Parkinsonia aculeata Family: Fabaceae Origin: West Indies and South America HWRA Score: 20 Big Island Habitat: Dry, disturbed areas, dry coastal areas Description: A small to medium sized tree to 30 feet tall with spiny, distinctly green branches and trunk. Impacts: Jerusalem thorn grows and reproduces very rapidly, displacing native plants and creating thick, very thorny stands. Dispersal Mechanism: Trees produce many seed pods which can survive for long periods in the soil. The nutritious seeds are spread widely by birds and small mammals. Suckers also form at the base of trees and along roots when disturbed by grazing animals. Cultivation: Jerusalem thorn was first planted in Hawai'i by the U.S. Army on Sand and Quarantine Islands in Honolulu Harbor. This spiny tree reseeded rapidly and efforts were soon made to eradicate it wherever it grew. While it has been used elsewhere as a xeriscape plant, this tree should never be cultivated in Hawai'i due to weediness. Don’t confuse with: • Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) Mesquite (locally called Kiawe) is a larger tree and, although spiny, lacks the distinct green bark coloring. TREE • Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) This small tree, native to Hawai'i's dry forests, has somewhat similar flowers but is not spiny and lacks Jerusalem thorn's green bark.
