Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_diospyros_sandwicensis
Lama
Diospyros sandwicensis
Open this record in the interactive Atlas
About Lama
Lama (Diospyros sandwicensis) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Tree 2–15 m tall, often with stem galls.
Kauaʻi evidence
Taxonomy, nativity, island-level occurrence, growth form, names, and source conservation assessments are documented in the 2026 census audit. Broader ecology and conservation recommendations still require claim-level source review. Generated imagery is not occurrence evidence.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Diospyros sandwicensis
- Common names
- Hawaiian ebony · Hawaiian persimmon · lama
- Hawaiian names
- Lama · Ēlama
- Other names
- lama · Diospyros sandwicensis · Diospyros ferrea f. degeneri · Diospyros ferrea var. degeneri · Diospyros ferrea f. kauaiensis · Diospyros ferrea var. kauaiensis · Diospyros ferrea f. lanaiensis · Diospyros ferrea f. obtusa · Diospyros ferrea f. ovata · Diospyros ferrea f. pubescens · Diospyros ferrea var. pubescens · Diospyros ferrea f. sandwicensis · Diospyros ferrea subsp. sandwicensis · Diospyros ferrea var. sandwicensis · Diospyros ferrea f. sclerophylla · Diospyros ferrea f. subcoriacea · Diospyros ferrea var. toppingii · Diospyros ferrea f. wailauensis · Diospyros ferrea f. wiebkei · Diospyros sandwicensis var. arachnoidea · Diospyros sandwicensis var. degeneri · Diospyros sandwicensis var. elliptica · Diospyros sandwicensis var. frameata · Diospyros sandwicensis var. kauaiensis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. kokeensis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. lanaiensis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. miloliiensis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. oahuensis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. obtusa · Diospyros sandwicensis var. ovalis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. perpubescens · Diospyros sandwicensis var. puberula · Diospyros sandwicensis var. pubescens · Diospyros sandwicensis var. rotundata · Diospyros sandwicensis var. rugosa · Diospyros sandwicensis var. sclerophylla · Diospyros sandwicensis var. toppingii · Diospyros sandwicensis var. wailauensis · Diospyros sandwicensis var. wiebkei · Ebenus sandwicensis · Maba degeneri · Maba degeneri var. lanaiensis · Maba kauaiensis · Maba kauaiensis var. wiebkei · Maba sandwicensis · Maba sandwicensis var. obtusa · Maba sandwicensis var. ovata · Maba sandwicensis var. pubescens · Maba sandwicensis f. sclerophylla · Maba sandwicensis var. subcoriacea · Maba sandwicensis var. wailauensis · Maba toppingii · Hawaiian ebony · Hawaiian persimmon · elama · ebony · persimmon
- Family
- Ebenaceae
- Order
- Ericales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessment: Apparently Secure; U.S. source status: No Status
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-05
- Evidence limits
- Island-level occurrence is retained; finer locality is intentionally withheld. Growth-form tags describe the taxon across its range, not a measured Kauaʻi population. Checklist source statuses are not a new legal-status determination.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Dry to mesic forest
- Food and resource needs
- Light, water, nutrients, and suitable soil or substrate
- Reproduction
- Viable propagules and suitable establishment conditions
- Shelter
- Suitable soil, substrate, and vegetation structure
- Growth form
- Tree
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Habitat loss, fire, invasive grasses, ungulates
- Conservation actions
- Dry forest restoration, fire reduction, fencing
- Monitoring
- Dry forest restoration, fire reduction, fencing
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- Lama (Diospyros sandwicensis) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Tree 2–15 m tall, often with stem galls.
