ʻIliahialoʻe
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Santalaceae
Genus:	Santalum
Species:	S. ellipticum
Binomial name
Santalum ellipticum Gaudich.

Santalum ellipticum, ʻIliahialoʻe or Coast Sandalwood, is a species of flowering plant in the European mistletoe family, Santalaceae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.^[1] It is a sprawling shrub to small tree, typically reaching a height of 1–5 metres (3.3–16 ft) and a canopy spread of 1–3 metres (3.3–9.8 ft), but is extremely variable in size and shape. ʻIliahialoʻe inhabits dry forests, low shrublands, and lava plains at elevations from sea level to 560 metres (1,800 ft). Like other members of the genus, S. ellipticum is a hemi-parasite, deriving some of its nutrients from the host plant by attaching to its roots.^[2]

Contents 1 Uses 1.1 Non-medicinal 1.2 Medicinal 2 References

[edit] Uses

[edit] Non-medicinal

The ʻlaʻau ʻala (heartwood) of ʻiliahialoʻe contains valuable, aromatic essential oils. Trees were harvested for export to China between 1791-1840, where the hard, yellowish-brown wood was made into carved objects, chests, and incense. The ʻiliahialoʻe trade peaked from 1815 to 1826.^[3] Native Hawaiians used the wood to make pola, the deck on a waʻa kaulua (double-hulled canoe). Powdered ʻlaʻau ʻala was used as a perfume and added to kapa cloth.^[4]

[edit] Medicinal

Native Hawaiians combined leaves and bark of the ʻiliahialoʻe with naio (Myoporum sandwicense) ashes to treat kepia o ke poʻo (dandruff) and liha o ka lauoho (head lice). ʻIliahialoʻe shavings mixed with ʻawa (Piper methysticum), nioi (Eugenia reinwardtiana), ʻahakea (Bobea spp.), and kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa) was used to treat sexually transmitted diseases.^[3]

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[edit] References