Sideroxylon persimile Bully tree

Sideroxylon persimile is a large thorny tree native from Mexico through Central America to northern South America. Not much is known about this tree but it was recently published as a new naturalized plant record for the State of Hawai'i (Starr et al. 2002). S. persimile occurs on the island of Maui and is cultivated in the Mauna'olu area, about 800 ft (244 m) elevation, where it is locally common and spreading from initial plantings to nearby disturbed areas in open fields, along roads, scrub areas, and gulches from Hali'imaile, 1,100 ft (335 m) elevation, to Paia, 500 ft (152 m) elevation. Recently a second site was found on leeward Maui in Ulupalakua, 1,800 ft (549 m) elevation, where a single large tree and a few small saplings occur. The Ulupalakua site is small enough that it could be controlled to prevent further spread in this area. The Mauna'olu infestation is more established and may not be feasible to control at this time. Further refined mapping is suggested. This species is planted as a street tree on O'ahu and as a forestry tree on other Hawaiian Islands. Updated information on the distribution and status of this species for the rest of the State is needed