Euphorbia celastroides
Chamaesyce celastroides (inflorescence)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. celastroides
Binomial name
Euphorbia celastroides
Synonyms[1]
List
  • *Chamaesyce celastroides (Boiss.) Croizat & O.Deg.
  • *Chamaesyce celastroides var. laehiensis (O.Deg., I.Deg. & Sherff) Koutnik
  • *Chamaesyce celastroides var. nelsonii (H.St.John) V.S.Raju & P.N.Rao
  • *Chamaesyce celastroides var. tomentella (Boiss.) Koutnik
  • *Chamaesyce lorifolia (A.Gray ex H.Mann) Croizat & O.Deg.
  • *Euphorbia annulata Nutt. ex Sherff
  • *Euphorbia celastroides var. arenisaxosa H.St.John
  • *Euphorbia celastroides var. limahuliensis H.St.John
  • *Euphorbia celastroides var. nelsonii H.St.John
  • *Euphorbia celastroides var. tomentella (Boiss.) Oudejans
  • *Euphorbia lorifolia (A.Gray ex H.Mann) Hillebr.
  • *Euphorbia multiformis var. tomentella Boiss.
  • *Euphorbia oahuensis Skottsb.
  • *Euphorbia rivularis A.Heller
  • *Euphorbia stokesii C.N.Forbes

Euphorbia celastroides is a flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae.[1] It is referred to by the common name 'akoko by Hawaiians, and is a species of spurge closely related to the poinsettia.[2] This species develops into a round-shape shrub. This species is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Description

Fruit of E. celastroides

Euphorbia celastroides grows as a medium-sized shrub or small tree reaching 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height.[3] To grow properly, this species requires temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F) and light shade.[4] This plant develops in a fashion similar to a shrub. In the summer, it assumes a red-violet colouring. It does not lose its leaves in the winter, due to the warm climate of its range. Female flowers have a three-part pistil over a three-part ovary, usually producing three (or sometimes more) seeds.[4] This species is tolerant of heat and drought. They are susceptible to fungal diseases. Its cyathia may be located in short or open-branched cymes, or remain ungrouped in leaf axils. The leaves are distichous (grow in two vertical rows) and may have a glaucous coating. This plant produces a green or brown, rounded fruit 2 to 4 mm long, containing grey-brown seeds 0.5 to 2.5 mm long.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Most varieties of this species can only be found in the Hawaiian Islands.[5][6] E. celastroides is tolerant of drought and grows in dry areas, inland as well coastal.[7] This species is endemic to the polihale and kanaio regions of Kauai and Maui.[8]

Conservation

Euphorbia celastroides has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN.[9] However, due to its endemic nature, it is very vulnerable to human threats. Two examples of such threats are four-wheeled vehicles (which crush the plant) and introduced species (which compete for resources).[8]

Varieties

This plant has many varieties. These varieties include:[10]

  • Var. amplectens
  • Var. halawana
  • Var. hanapepensis
  • Var. haupuana
  • Var. humbertii
  • Var. ingrata
  • Var. kaenana
  • Var. kohalana
  • Var. laehiensis
  • Var. lorifolia
  • Var. mauiensis
  • Var. nelsonii
  • Var. nematopoda
  • Var. niuensis
  • Var. pseudoniuensis
  • Var. saxicola
  • Var. typica
  • Var. waikoluensis

References

  1. 1 2 "Euphorbia celastroides Boiss". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Euphorbiaceae at hawaii.edu". Archived from the original on 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  3. 1 2 Hawaiian flora at botany.si.edu
  4. 1 2 E. celastroides at ZipCodeZoo
  5. ↑ Wagner, W.; D. Herbst; S. Sohmer (1990). Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 1853. ISBN 978-0-8248-1152-5.
  6. ↑ USDA.gov on Var.kaenana
  7. ↑ Mitchell, Andrew W. (1989). The fragile South Pacific: an ecological odyssey. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-292-72466-2. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  8. 1 2 CHAMAESYCE CELASTROIDES COASTAL DRY SHRUBLAND Archived 2009-09-18 at the Wayback Machine at hawaii.edu
  9. ↑ Chamaesyce celastroides Archived 2010-07-14 at the Wayback Machine at EOL.org
  10. ↑ Euphorbia on SageBud
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