Pritchardia minor

Description:

Loulu or Alakai Swamp pritchardia ArecaceaeEndemic to the Hawaiiian islands (Kauai only)IUCN: EndangeredOahu (Cultivated)Loulu, pronounced low-loo, means "umbrella," because the leaves were formerly used as protection from rain or sun.The fruits, called hwane or whane, were peeled and eaten by early Hawaiians. They collected young fruits. The flavor of young fruit with the soft interior is similar to coconut. The trunks loulu were notched for climbing to gather the immature fruits and fronds. Older specimens still bear notches that can be seen today.The fronds, or leaves, called lau hwane were used by the early Hawaiians for thatching and more recently as plaiting such as papale (hats) and fans.EtymologyThe generic name is named for William Thomas Pritchard (1829-1907), 19th century British counsul in Fiji, adventurer, and author of Polynesian Reminiscences in 1866.The epithet minor means smaller in reference to its smaller stature to other Pritchardia sp. But, despite the species name "minor," this loulu can be medium to tall palm growing to about 40 feet tall.NPH00002nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pritchardia_minor