Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_kokia_kauaiensis
Kauai tree cotton
Kokia kauaiensis
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About Kauai tree cotton
Kauai tree cotton (Kokia kauaiensis) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Tree 5–10 m tall with very large, palmately divided leaves 12–25 cm wide, usually with seven or nine deep lobes and a heart-shaped base.
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
- Kokia kauaiensis
- Common names
- Kauai tree cotton
- Hawaiian names
- Kokio
- Other names
- Kauai tree cotton · Kokia kauaiensis · Kokia rockii var. kauaiensis · Kokio
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Order
- Malvales
- Record type
- Species or taxonomic group
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- Smithsonian checklist assessment: Endangered; U.S. source status: Endangered
- 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 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
- Extreme rarity, habitat loss, fire, weeds, ungulates
- Conservation actions
- Ex situ conservation, controlled outplanting, dry forest protection
- Monitoring
- Ex situ conservation, controlled outplanting, dry forest protection
- Data gaps
- Additional ecological and conservation citations are recommended
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not assessed
- Seasonal description
- Kauai tree cotton (Kokia kauaiensis) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and recorded on Kauaʻi. Tree 5–10 m tall with very large, palmately divided leaves 12–25 cm wide, usually with seven or nine deep lobes and a heart-shaped base.
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