{{Short description|Species of shrub}} {{Speciesbox |image = Starr 041120-1013 Psydrax odorata.jpg |genus = Psydrax |species = odorata |authority = (G.Forst.) A.C.Sm. & S.P.Darwin<ref name=WCSP>{{cite web | title = ''Psydrax odorata'' | url = http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=170275 | work = World Checklist of Selected Plant Families | publisher = Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | accessdate = March 23, 2015 }}</ref> |synonyms = *''Coffea odorata'' {{Au|G.Forst.}} *''Canthium odoratum'' {{Au|(G.Forst.) Seem.}} *''Ixora odorata'' {{Au|(G.Forst.) Spreng.}} *''Plectronia odorata'' {{Au|(G.Forst.) F.Muell.}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name=WCSP/><ref name="ITIS">{{cite web |url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35150 |title=''Canthium odoratum'' (G. Forst.) Seem.|work=ITIS Standard Reports|publisher=Integrated Taxonomic Information System|accessdate=March 23, 2009}}</ref> }}
'''''Psydrax odorata''''', known as '''''alahe{{okina}}e''''' in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web |url=https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PSOD|title=''Psydrax odorata'' (G. Forst.) A.C. Sm. & S. Darwin|work=The PLANTS Database|publisher=USDA|access-date=March 23, 2009}}</ref> It is native to the Pacific Islands, New Guinea and Australia.<ref name=WCSP/><ref name="Auwahi">{{cite web|url= http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/auwahi/ethnobotany_of_auwahi.pdf|title=Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest|first=A. C.|last=Medeiros|author2=C.F. Davenport |author3=C.G. Chimera |publisher=Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa|year=1998}}</ref> The first name, ''Psydrax,'' is the definition for a bleb, while ''odoratus'' defines as a nice aroma.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Native Plants of Hawai‘i - Psydrax odorata |url=https://www.nativeplantsofhawaii.org/p/psydrax-odorata |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=www.nativeplantsofhawaii.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Description== The species range from {{convert|6|-|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} in height, has a spread of {{convert|3|-|7|ft|m|abbr=on}},<ref name=hawaii>{{cite web|url=http://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/psy-odor.htm|title=''Psydrax odorata''|work=Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Database|publisher=University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa|accessdate=March 23, 2009}}</ref> and a trunk width of up to {{convert|4|in|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="CFTH">{{cite web|url=http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Canthium_odoratum.pdf|title=Alaheʻe|first=Elbert L.|last=Little Jr.|author2=Roger G. Skolmen|work=Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced)|publisher=United States Forest Service|year=1989|access-date=2010-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610002223/http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Canthium_odoratum.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> The leaves are glossy green in color, are up to {{convert|3.5|in}} long and elliptic. The fruits of the plant are quite round, are black in color and 3/8 wide.<ref name=hawaii/> They also have the capability to live for 5 years while being able to live in difficult environments such as: dry soil, little sunlight for photosynthesis and little to no fertilizer.<ref name=":0" /> The white flowers are bisexual.<ref name=":0" /> Meaning that the white flowers of Psydrax odorata have both male and female organs for reproductive. This aids in the survivability for offspring.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2024 |title=Bisexual Botany |url=https://www.lpzoo.org/bisexual-botany/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=Lincoln Park Zoo. For Wildlife. For All.}}</ref>
==Ecology== The fruits produce many seeds which are often attacked by the larvae of ''Alucita objurgatella'', a species of the many-plumed moths.<ref name=hawaii/>
==Habitat== The species can be found growing in dry shrub land and in dry to moist forests at elevations of up to {{convert|2700|ft|-2}}.<ref name=hawaii/> This Psydrax Odorata plant is mainly found in the Hawaiian Islands. This species can be specifically seen on a hill called Kaluakauila in O'ahu.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific - Hawaii |url=https://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/geog/tdfpacific/hawaii.html |access-date=April 20, 2026 |website=www.sscnet.ucla.edu|archive-date=|archive-url=}}</ref> They are also found in the Big Island of Hawaii and Lanai.<ref name=":1" />
==Uses== Native Hawaiians used the very hard wood of ''alahe{{okina}}e'' to make ''ko{{okina}}i alahe{{okina}}e'' (adzes for cutting softer woods such as ''Erythrina sandwicensis''), ''{{okina}}ō{{okina}}ō'' (digging sticks), and ''{{okina}}o'' (short spears). A black dye was made from the leaves.<ref name="Auwahi"/> Natural medicine for the sick was used from the stem and leaves.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Flora of Hawaii: Alahee |url=https://htmc1910.org/news/flora-of-hawaii-alahee/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club |language=en}}</ref> Some people used leaves (as well as other ingredients) to disinfect bloody fluids of the body.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata) – Maui Nui Botanical Gardens |url=https://mnbg.org/hawaiian-native-plant-collection/alahee-psydrax-odorata/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> The leaves were specifically used because Pacific Islanders and Indigenous Australian trusted its properties to take effect on severe and non-severe injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Relationship: Injuries and Malay Bush - Caring Sunshine |url=https://caringsunshine.com/relationships/relationship-injuries-and-malay-bush/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
thumb|The whole tree of Psydrax odorata.
==References== {{Wikispecies}} {{commonscat}} {{Reflist|2}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7256554}}
odorata Category:Flora of the Pacific Category:Flora of New Guinea Category:Flora of Australia Category:Plants described in 1786