Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_euphorbia_celastroides
ʻakoko
Euphorbia celastroides
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About ʻakoko
ʻakoko (Euphorbia celastroides) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Highly variable shrub or small tree 0.4–9 m tall, with prostrate to erect stems that may be hairless or woolly.
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
- Euphorbia celastroides
- Common names
- akoko
- Hawaiian names
- ʻakoko
- Other names
- akoko · Euphorbia celastroides · Chamaesyce celastroides var. amplectens · Chamaesyce celastroides var. halawana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. ingrata · Chamaesyce celastroides f. kahanana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. kohalana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. saxicola · Chamaesyce celastroides var. waikoluensis · Chamaesyce multiformis var. manoana · Euphorbia celastroides var. arenisaxosa · Euphorbia celastroides var. halawana · Euphorbia celastroides var. ingrata · Euphorbia celastroides f. kahanana · Euphorbia celastroides var. kohalana · Euphorbia celastroides var. waikoluensis · Euphorbia multiformis var. manoana · Chamaesyce celastroides · Chamaesyce celastroides var. haupuana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. humbertii · Chamaesyce celastroides var. nematopoda · Euphorbia celastroides var. haupuana · Euphorbia celastroides var. humbertii · Euphorbia celastroides var. kealiana · Euphorbia celastroides var. nematopoda · Euphorbia multiformis var. celastroides · Chamaesyce celastroides var. hanapepensis · Chamaesyce celastroides var. nelsonii · Euphorbia celastroides var. limahuliensis · Euphorbia celastroides var. nelsonii · Euphorbia rivularis · Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. niuensis · Euphorbia celastroides var. niuensis · Chamaesyce celastroides var. laehiensis · Chamaesyce celastroides var. lorifolia · Chamaesyce celastroides var. mauiensis · Chamaesyce celastroides var. odonatoides · Chamaesyce lorifolia · Euphorbia celastroides var. mauiensis · Euphorbia celastroides var. odonatoides · Euphorbia lorifolia · Euphorbia multiformis var. lorifolia · Chamaesyce celastroides var. kealiana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. moomomiana · Chamaesyce celastroides var. stokesii · Euphorbia celastroides var. moomomiana · Euphorbia stokesii · Chamaesyce celastroides var. tomentella · Chamaesyce multiformis var. kaalana · Chamaesyce multiformis var. perdita · Chamaesyce multiformis var. tomentella · Euphorbia multiformis var. kaalana · Euphorbia multiformis var. perdita · Euphorbia multiformis var. tomentella · Euphorbia oahuensis
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Order
- Malpighiales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessments vary among included taxa: Apparently Secure; Endangered; Vulnerable; Extinct; U.S. source statuses: No Status; Endangered. Rank-specific review required.
- 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. Conservation assessments differ among included lower-rank taxa; no single rank is inferred for the whole species.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Dry shrubland · Coastal cliffs · Lava and rocky slopes
- 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; Shrub
Threats and conservation
- Threats
- Fire, invasive grasses, goats, development
- Conservation actions
- Rare plant monitoring, seed collection, dryland restoration
- Monitoring
- Rare plant monitoring, seed collection, dryland restoration
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- ʻakoko (Euphorbia celastroides) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Highly variable shrub or small tree 0.4–9 m tall, with prostrate to erect stems that may be hairless or woolly.
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