Hawaii Plant Materials State Exam 2026 |
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Part 1: Native & Endemic Species (Questions 1-25)
1. Which of the following plants is endemic to Hawaii and is often used as a structural
hardwood for flooring and furniture?
A) Metrosideros polymorpha
B) Acacia koa
C) Scaevola taccada
D) Hibiscus arnottianus
B) Acacia koa
Explanation: Koa is Hawaii’s most famous endemic hardwood, prized for its strength
and curly grain.
2. The Hibiscus brackenridgei (Ma’o hau hele) is best recognized by what flower color?
A) White
B) Red
C) Yellow
D) Pink
C) Yellow
Explanation: The official State Flower is a bright yellow hibiscus that is federally listed
as endangered.
3. Which plant is an indigenous groundcover often used in xeriscaping for its silvery-green
foliage and blue berries?
A) Vitex rotundifolia
B) Dianella sandwicensis
C) Osteomeles anthyllidifolia
D) Jacquemontia sandwicensis
B) Dianella sandwicensis
, Explanation: Known as 'Uki'uki, this plant is popular in landscaping for its hardy nature
and decorative berries.
4. Metrosideros polymorpha ('Ōhi'a lehua) is highly variable in form. In which environment
would you most likely find its prostrate or stunted form?
A) Lowland rainforests
B) Bogs or high-elevation windswept ridges
C) Coastal sand dunes
D) Dry leeward plains
B) Bogs or high-elevation windswept ridges
Explanation: 'Ōhi'a is remarkably adaptive; it can grow as a 100-foot tree or a 6-inch
prostrate shrub in extreme conditions.
5. What is the Hawaiian name for Dodonaea viscosa, an indigenous shrub known for its
winged seed capsules?
A) 'A'ali'i
B) 'Ilie'e
C) 'Akia
D) 'Ulei
A) 'A'ali'i
Explanation: 'A'ali'i is extremely drought-tolerant and wind-resistant, making it a
favorite for restoration and landscaping.
6. Which endemic tree is known as the "Hawaiian Gardenia" and has highly fragrant white
flowers?
A) Gardenia jasminoides
B) Gardenia brighamii
C) Santalum ellipticum
D) Pisonia umbellifera
B) Gardenia brighamii
Explanation: Known as Nānū, this is a rare endemic tree with a fragrance more subtle
and spicy than the common Tahitian gardenia.
7. Scaevola taccada (Naupaka kahakai) is often used in landscape design primarily for:
A) Timber production
B) Privacy hedging and salt-spray barriers
C) Edible fruit
D) Fragrant lei flowers
B) Privacy hedging and salt-spray barriers
, Explanation: Its thick, succulent leaves and bushy growth make it an ideal windbreak
for beach-front properties.
8. Which native fern is an "early colonizer" on lava flows?
A) Adiantum capillus-veneris
B) Sadleria cyatheoides
C) Polypodium pellucidum
D) Microlepia strigosa
B) Sadleria cyatheoides
Explanation: 'Ama'uma'u ferns are often the first large plants to emerge from cracks in
cooling lava.
9. The "Wiliwili" tree (Erythrina sandwicensis) is found in which habitat?
A) Alpine desert
B) Lowland dry forest
C) Mid-elevation rainforest
D) Mangrove swamp
B) Lowland dry forest
Explanation: Wiliwili is a keystone species of the Hawaiian dry forest and is famous for
its light, buoyant wood.
10. Osteomeles anthyllidifolia ('Ulei) is a member of which plant family?
A) Rosaceae (Rose)
B) Fabaceae (Pea)
C) Malvaceae (Mallow)
D) Rubiaceae (Coffee)
A) Rosaceae (Rose)
Explanation: 'Ulei is one of the few native Hawaiian members of the Rose family and
produces small white flowers similar to hawthorn.
11. Which plant is commonly known as "Hawaiian Sandalwood"?
A) Santalum paniculatum
B) Diospyros sandwicensis
C) Pritchardia martii
D) Wikstroemia uva-ursi
A) Santalum paniculatum
Explanation: 'Iliahi (Sandalwood) was a major export in the 1800s and is known for its
fragrant heartwood.
12. What is a defining characteristic of Wikstroemia uva-ursi ('Akia)?
A) It has thorns on the stems.
, B) It is highly toxic if ingested, historically used to stun fish.
C) It grows only in standing water.
D) Its flowers only bloom at night.
B) It is highly toxic if ingested, historically used to stun fish.
Explanation: 'Akia contains toxins that were used by ancient Hawaiians to temporarily
paralyze fish in tidepools.
13. Which Pritchardia species is the only palm genus native to Hawaii?
A) Cocos
B) Dypsis
C) Pritchardia
D) Roystonea
C) Pritchardia
Explanation: Loulu (Pritchardia) is the only genus of fan palms native to the Hawaiian
Islands.
14. Vitex rotundifolia (Pōhinahina) is best utilized in a landscape as:
A) A tall canopy tree
B) A stabilizing groundcover for dunes
C) An indoor potted plant
D) A submerged aquatic plant
B) A stabilizing groundcover for dunes
Explanation: This beach vitex has a sprawling habit and helps prevent sand erosion.
15. The endemic Sophora chrysophylla (Māmane) is critical for the survival of which bird?
A) Nēnē
B) Palila
C) 'I'iwi
D) 'Apapane
B) Palila
Explanation: The Palila bird depends almost exclusively on the seeds of the Māmane
tree for food.
16. Which native plant is known as "Hawaiian Heather"?
A) Vaccinium reticulatum
B) Styphelia tameiameiae
C) Rumex giganteus
D) Coprosma ochracea
B) Styphelia tameiameiae
Verified Questions & Detailed Explanations |
Landscape Architect Licensure | instant pdf
download
Part 1: Native & Endemic Species (Questions 1-25)
1. Which of the following plants is endemic to Hawaii and is often used as a structural
hardwood for flooring and furniture?
A) Metrosideros polymorpha
B) Acacia koa
C) Scaevola taccada
D) Hibiscus arnottianus
B) Acacia koa
Explanation: Koa is Hawaii’s most famous endemic hardwood, prized for its strength
and curly grain.
2. The Hibiscus brackenridgei (Ma’o hau hele) is best recognized by what flower color?
A) White
B) Red
C) Yellow
D) Pink
C) Yellow
Explanation: The official State Flower is a bright yellow hibiscus that is federally listed
as endangered.
3. Which plant is an indigenous groundcover often used in xeriscaping for its silvery-green
foliage and blue berries?
A) Vitex rotundifolia
B) Dianella sandwicensis
C) Osteomeles anthyllidifolia
D) Jacquemontia sandwicensis
B) Dianella sandwicensis
, Explanation: Known as 'Uki'uki, this plant is popular in landscaping for its hardy nature
and decorative berries.
4. Metrosideros polymorpha ('Ōhi'a lehua) is highly variable in form. In which environment
would you most likely find its prostrate or stunted form?
A) Lowland rainforests
B) Bogs or high-elevation windswept ridges
C) Coastal sand dunes
D) Dry leeward plains
B) Bogs or high-elevation windswept ridges
Explanation: 'Ōhi'a is remarkably adaptive; it can grow as a 100-foot tree or a 6-inch
prostrate shrub in extreme conditions.
5. What is the Hawaiian name for Dodonaea viscosa, an indigenous shrub known for its
winged seed capsules?
A) 'A'ali'i
B) 'Ilie'e
C) 'Akia
D) 'Ulei
A) 'A'ali'i
Explanation: 'A'ali'i is extremely drought-tolerant and wind-resistant, making it a
favorite for restoration and landscaping.
6. Which endemic tree is known as the "Hawaiian Gardenia" and has highly fragrant white
flowers?
A) Gardenia jasminoides
B) Gardenia brighamii
C) Santalum ellipticum
D) Pisonia umbellifera
B) Gardenia brighamii
Explanation: Known as Nānū, this is a rare endemic tree with a fragrance more subtle
and spicy than the common Tahitian gardenia.
7. Scaevola taccada (Naupaka kahakai) is often used in landscape design primarily for:
A) Timber production
B) Privacy hedging and salt-spray barriers
C) Edible fruit
D) Fragrant lei flowers
B) Privacy hedging and salt-spray barriers
, Explanation: Its thick, succulent leaves and bushy growth make it an ideal windbreak
for beach-front properties.
8. Which native fern is an "early colonizer" on lava flows?
A) Adiantum capillus-veneris
B) Sadleria cyatheoides
C) Polypodium pellucidum
D) Microlepia strigosa
B) Sadleria cyatheoides
Explanation: 'Ama'uma'u ferns are often the first large plants to emerge from cracks in
cooling lava.
9. The "Wiliwili" tree (Erythrina sandwicensis) is found in which habitat?
A) Alpine desert
B) Lowland dry forest
C) Mid-elevation rainforest
D) Mangrove swamp
B) Lowland dry forest
Explanation: Wiliwili is a keystone species of the Hawaiian dry forest and is famous for
its light, buoyant wood.
10. Osteomeles anthyllidifolia ('Ulei) is a member of which plant family?
A) Rosaceae (Rose)
B) Fabaceae (Pea)
C) Malvaceae (Mallow)
D) Rubiaceae (Coffee)
A) Rosaceae (Rose)
Explanation: 'Ulei is one of the few native Hawaiian members of the Rose family and
produces small white flowers similar to hawthorn.
11. Which plant is commonly known as "Hawaiian Sandalwood"?
A) Santalum paniculatum
B) Diospyros sandwicensis
C) Pritchardia martii
D) Wikstroemia uva-ursi
A) Santalum paniculatum
Explanation: 'Iliahi (Sandalwood) was a major export in the 1800s and is known for its
fragrant heartwood.
12. What is a defining characteristic of Wikstroemia uva-ursi ('Akia)?
A) It has thorns on the stems.
, B) It is highly toxic if ingested, historically used to stun fish.
C) It grows only in standing water.
D) Its flowers only bloom at night.
B) It is highly toxic if ingested, historically used to stun fish.
Explanation: 'Akia contains toxins that were used by ancient Hawaiians to temporarily
paralyze fish in tidepools.
13. Which Pritchardia species is the only palm genus native to Hawaii?
A) Cocos
B) Dypsis
C) Pritchardia
D) Roystonea
C) Pritchardia
Explanation: Loulu (Pritchardia) is the only genus of fan palms native to the Hawaiian
Islands.
14. Vitex rotundifolia (Pōhinahina) is best utilized in a landscape as:
A) A tall canopy tree
B) A stabilizing groundcover for dunes
C) An indoor potted plant
D) A submerged aquatic plant
B) A stabilizing groundcover for dunes
Explanation: This beach vitex has a sprawling habit and helps prevent sand erosion.
15. The endemic Sophora chrysophylla (Māmane) is critical for the survival of which bird?
A) Nēnē
B) Palila
C) 'I'iwi
D) 'Apapane
B) Palila
Explanation: The Palila bird depends almost exclusively on the seeds of the Māmane
tree for food.
16. Which native plant is known as "Hawaiian Heather"?
A) Vaccinium reticulatum
B) Styphelia tameiameiae
C) Rumex giganteus
D) Coprosma ochracea
B) Styphelia tameiameiae
