Euphorbia skottsbergii
Genus
Euphorbia
Species
skottsbergii
Varieties
- skottsbergii
- vacciniodes
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Koko
- Kōkōmālei
- ʻAkoko
- ʻEkoko
Hawaiian Names
- Akoko
- Ekoko
- Koko
- Kokomalei
Common Names
- Coast sandmat
- ʻEwa Plains akoko
Synonyms
- Chamaesyce multiformis var. haleakalana
- Chamaesyce multiformis var. kapuleiensis
- Chamaesyce skottsbergii
- Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. audens
- Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. kalaeloana
- Euphorbia multiformis f. pekelonis
- Euphorbia multiformis var. haleakalana
- Euphorbia multiformis var. kapuleiensis
- Euphorbia skottsbergii
- Euphorbia skottsbergii var. audens
- Euphorbia skottsbergii var. kalaeloana
- Euphorbia skottsbergii var. vaccinioides
Distribution Status
Endemic
Endangered Species Status
Federally Listed
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Partially Woody / Shrub-like
- Shrub
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
- Shrub, Dwarf, Less than 2
- Shrub, Small, 2 to 6
Mature Size, Width
About 5 to 6 feet in width.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Accent
- Container
- Hedges
Additional Landscape Use Information
This graceful shrub (var. skottsbergii) can be used in the landscape to lessen the harshness of an otherwise hot, dry location and does well on a west, southwest or south facing area. Black or red cinder or clean coral "rock" provide a natural mulch as well as highlight the tiny leaves. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Type
Not Showy
Flower Colors
- Brownish
- Greenish-White
Blooming Period
- Year Round
- Sporadic
- Spring
- Winter
Additional Blooming Period and Fruiting Information
Plants begin growing and flowering with the winter rain and throughout the wet season. When the dry season comes, the plants began to loose leaves and eventually beome dormant in the summer peak drought season. The winter wet season again initiates the growth and flowering cycle. [1]
After flowering, tiny fruiting capsules are formed. Upon ripening the capsules split and explosively cast (dehiscent) the tiny seeds abroad. They easily germinate under moist and partial sun conditions. The seedlings can at first be mistaken for some of the taller weedy spurges that plague many urban yards. But before pulling up the "weed," take the time to identify the difference between an ubiquitous spurge and an incredibly rare ʻakoko. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Plant texture
- Fine
Leaf Colors
- Dark Green
- Medium Green
Additional Pest & Disease Information
Whiteflies and spider mites on underside of leaves and sometimes scale along stems. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Fertilizer
This 'akoko does appreciate foliar feedings of fish or keep emulsion monthly or every other month on a regular basis. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Pruning Information
Little or no pruning required, but does taking moderate pruning well if needed. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Water Requirements
- Dry
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
- Partial sun
Additional Lighting Information
Can grow in partial sun, but definitely prefers long days of full sun. This is a great plant to use on a west, south, or south-west location in the landscape. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Spacing Information
For denser plantings, perhaps 3 to 4 feet apart. To showcase these delicate shrubs, perhaps 5 or more feet apart. [David Eickhoff, Native Plants Hawaiʻi]
Tolerances
- Drought
- Wind
- Salt Spray
Soils
- Sand
- Cinder
- Coral
Natural Range
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Maui
- Kahoʻolawe
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- Less than 150, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 150 to 1000, 50 to 100 (Mesic)
Additional Habitat Information
This species of ʻakoko is found among coastal vegetation and dry shrubland, apparently restricted to calcareous (calcium carbonate or limestone).
The fedearlly endangered variety skottsbergii is restricted to Kalaeloa around the Barber's Point (Naval Air Station) vacinity on Oʻahu, and on northwest Molokaʻi from Waiakanapō and Pōhakumauliuli to Moʻomomi. [1]
The vulnerable variety vacciniodes is found mostly on Molokaʻi (Makakupaiʻa, Mākolelau, Kameloloa) with a very few collections on Kahoʻolawe and southern Maui, in low elevation shrublands in basalt soils. [2]
Even though there are separate island populations of var. skottsbergii, on Molokaʻi this variety appears to be genetically closer to variety vaccinioides than it does to the Oʻahu var. skottsbergii. Thus, C. Morden & M. Gregoritza suggest that it "should be recognized by the previously used variety name, C. skottsbergii var. audens." [2]
Special Features and Information
General Information
ʻAkoko (Chamaesyce) belong to the Spurge or Euphorbia family (Euphorbiaceae).
There are sixteen native species of ʻakoko (Chamaesyce spp.)--all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. A number of ʻakoko are either vulnerable, rare or endangered, with two considered extinct. Several have beautiful foliage and range in size from very prostrate sub-shrubs such as Chamaesyce degeneri to Chamaesyce olowaluana, which are nearly 30-foot trees--perhaps the tallest in the entire genus of 250 species worldwide!
The two other native members in Euphorbiaceae are poʻolā (Claoxylon sandwicense) and a native tree euphorbia (Euphorbia haeleeleana). Some well known non-native relatives are the Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), kukui (Aleurites moluccana), poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) from which latex comes.
There a number of naturalized spurges that are generally considered as weeds. None of these are known by the Hawaiian name ʻakoko, which is reserved for the endemic species.
The two currently recognizedChamesyce skottsbergii varieties are separated by the following characteristics:
- Variety skottsbergii is an overall smaller plant with toothed (serrate) or sometimes smooth edged leaves usually less than 3/4 of an inch (2 cm.).
- Variety vaccinioides is a more robust plant with smooth edged (entire) leaves usually more than 3/4 of an inch (2 cm.).
Etymology
Name is derived from the Greek chamai, on the ground, and sykon, fig, perhaps in reference to the low habit of most species and the fig-like apperance of the capsules.
The name ʻakoko comes from the Hawaiian word "koko" for blood. They get their name from the red, or blood-colored, seed capsules appearing as drops of blood on the plant. [3,4]
Additional References
[1] "Recovery Plan for Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. skottsbergii and Achyranthes spendens var. rotundata," by USFWS, pages 4, 10, 13, 14, 17.
[2] "Population variation and phylogeny in the endangered Chamaesyce skottsbergii (Euphorbiaceae) based on RAD and ITS analyses," by Clifford W. Morden & Monica Gregoritza, pages 969-977.
[3] "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" by Beatrice Krauss, page 138.
[4] "In Gardens of Hawaii" by Marie C. Neal, page 516.
PHOTOS FOR THIS SPECIES CAN BE SEEN AT THE LINK (Copy & Paste to your browser):
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50823119%40N08&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Euphorbia%20skottsbergii&view_all=1
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