Mnele, Ae, or SoapberrySapindaceae (Soapberry family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Huallai, Mauna Loa, Klauea on Hawaii Island)Oahu (Cultivated)Apparently the pulp of the fruit was used by early Hawaiians as a soap for shampooing hair and washing clothes in the past.More at:NPH00008nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sapindus_saponaria
Mnele, Ae, or SoapberrySapindaceae (Soapberry family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Huallai, Mauna Loa and Klauea, Hawaii Island only)Oahu (Cultivated)Dozens of volunteer saplings (seedlings) coming up through the thick mnele leaf debris. Mnele is very easy to grow from seed.Apparently the pulp of the fruit was used by early Hawaiians as a soap for shampooing hair and washing clothes in the past.EtymologyThe generic name Sapindus is derived from Latin sapo, or soap, and indicus, Indian.The speicific epithet saponaria, similar to the generic name, is from the Latin saponis, or soap-like, referring to the saponin or soapy substance that comes from the fleshy seeds.NPH00009nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sapindus_saponaria
Mnele, Ae, or SoapberrySapindaceae (Soapberry family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Huallai, Mauna Loa and Klauea, Hawaii Island only)Oahu (Cultivated)Fruits are not edible for humans.Apparently the pulp of the fruit was used by early Hawaiians as a soap for shampooing hair and washing clothes in the past.The beautiful black seeds were, and still are, strung as permanent lei or necklaces.EtymologyThe generic name Sapindus is derived from Latin sapo, or soap, and indicus, Indian.The speicific epithet saponaria, similar to the generic name, is from the Latin saponis, or soap-like, referring to the saponin or soapy substance that comes from the fleshy seeds.NPH00009nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sapindus_saponaria
Mnele, Ae, or SoapberrySapindaceae (Soapberry family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Huallai, Mauna Loa and Klauea, Hawaii Island only)Oahu (Cultivated)Dozens of saplings (seedlings) coming up through the thick mnele leaf debris.Apparently the pulp of the fruit was used by early Hawaiians as a soap for shampooing hair and washing clothes in the past.EtymologyThe generic name Sapindus is derived from Latin sapo, or soap, and indicus, Indian.The speicific epithet saponaria, similar to the generic name, is from the Latin saponis, or soap-like, referring to the saponin or soapy substance that comes from the fleshy seeds.NPH00009nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sapindus_saponaria
Mnele, Ae, or SoapberrySapindaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Huallai, Mauna Loa and Klauea, Hawaii Island only)Oahu (Cultivated)Apparently the pulp of the fruit was used by early Hawaiians as a soap for shampooing hair and washing clothes in the past.NPH00009nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sapindus_saponaria
Indigenous to Hawaii. While this tree can be found in many other places around the world, in the Hawaiian Islands it is only found in Volcano and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is called A'e in Volcano and Manele in Kona.
