Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_clusia_rosea
Autograph Tree
Clusia rosea
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About Autograph Tree
Clusia rosea is native from Florida and the Caribbean into tropical America and is introduced in Hawaiʻi. Bird-dispersed seeds, epiphytic establishment, and tolerance of coastal and disturbed habitats can help it escape cultivation and overtop host vegetation. Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist documents naturalized presence on Kauaʻi; current extent remains unassessed.
Kauaʻi evidence
Bishop Museum 2025 Checklist wide: Taxon=Clusia rosea; Status=nat; K=K. Identification and ecological statements have the separately linked reviewed sources. The checklist establishes documented island presence; it does not establish current abundance or invasion extent.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Clusia rosea
- Common names
- Autograph Tree
- Other names
- Autograph Tree · pitch apple · copey · balsam apple · Firkea rosea · Clusia rosea
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Invasive-species management concern
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Current extent and population trajectory require refreshed surveys; public occurrence is island level only.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Terrestrial / managed landscapes / native ecosystems
- Food and resource needs
- Taxon-specific requirements under review
- Reproduction
- Not yet assessed
- Shelter
- Terrestrial / managed landscapes / native ecosystems
- Growth form
- Tree
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Terrestrial / managed landscapes / native ecosystems
- Conservation actions
- phase out horticultural use; prevent further spread; manage escapes
- Monitoring
- phase out horticultural use; prevent further spread; manage escapes
- Data gaps
- Live extent/status and canonical linkage must be refreshed against current Atlas/agency data before final public release. · Establishment requirements need review
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- Clusia rosea is native from Florida and the Caribbean into tropical America and is introduced in Hawaiʻi. Bird-dispersed seeds, epiphytic establishment, and tolerance of coastal and disturbed habitats can help it escape cultivation and overtop host vegetation. Bishop Museum’s 2025 checklist documents naturalized presence on Kauaʻi; current extent remains unassessed.