CR

Alectryon macrococcus

Declining

Overview

Alectryon macrococcus, known as ʻAlaʻalahua or Māhoe in Hawaiian, is a slow-growing flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that is endemic to mesic forests on the islands of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Maui in Hawaii.

Alectryon macrococcus faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited Hawaiian range. Invasive plant species compete aggressively with native seedlings, preventing natural regeneration. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks that could drive it to extinction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Hawaiian tree inhabits dry to mesic forests and shrublands on volcanic slopes, typically at elevations between 300-900 meters. It grows in mixed native forest communities alongside other endangered Hawaiian flora, preferring well-drained soils on lava substrates.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementLegislation

Other threatened species in SAPINDACEAE

VU

Sapindus oahuensis

Declining
EN

Allophylus torrei

Unknown
VU

Guioa waigeoensis

Unknown
EN

Tina tamatavensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Alectryon macrococcus classified as Critically Endangered?
Alectryon macrococcus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Alectryon macrococcus faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited Hawaiian range. Invasive plant species compete aggressively with native seedlings, preventing natural regeneration. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks that could drive it to extinction.
Where does Alectryon macrococcus live?
Alectryon macrococcus occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Alectryon macrococcus?
The main threats to Alectryon macrococcus are 2.3, 6.2, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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