`Akoko / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

`Akoko (Euphorbia skottsbergii var. skottsbergii)

This shot shows the tree on the grounds of Waimea Arboretum in 1989. This tree is now dead. Photo Credit: Waimea
  • Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Euphorbiaceae
  • State: HI
  • Nature Serve ID: 158140
  • Lifeform: Shrub, Subshrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

Perennial, erect shrub with spindly, segmented, brittle branches and small, opposing ovate to orbicular leaves. Specimens range to 2 meters in height, but most are 0.5 to 1 meter tall. Plants are summer deciduous in their natural habitat, but retain leaves with irrigation. Copious milky white sap. Seeds are ejected by an explosive dispersal mechanism. This taxon is currently lumped with Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. skottsbergii, pending further genetic work. (Wagner et al. 1999)

Where is `Akoko (Euphorbia skottsbergii var. skottsbergii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

'Ewa Plains of Oahu, Hawaii

Distribution:

Found only on the Island of Oahu.

States & Provinces:

`Akoko can be found in Hawaii

Which CPC Partners conserve `Akoko (Euphorbia skottsbergii var. skottsbergii)?

  • Waimea Arboretum Foundation

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add

    Silver Sponsor

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    G.N. Wilcox Trust

    Assigned 06/09/17

  • Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

    Not Sponsored
    Assigned 07/24/23
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 10/17/2020
      • Demographic Research

    A 1999 survey of two 20-acre parcels of its remaining range found 11 adults, 11 juveniles and 6 seedlings. From this a population estimate of 330 individuals was extrapolated. ""Data tables and maps showing locations are provided in the Draft EE/CA Addendum No. 2 Former Trap and Skeet Ranges, Former Naval Air Station Barber's Point, Oahu, Hawaii (Earth Tech 1999) A 2000 survey by Art Whistler and USFWS biologists covered the remaining 100 acres over two days in February of that year. A total of 131 dead and living 'akoko individuals were counted. 94 seedlings and juveniles were recorded along with 37 dead plants. These were hand-mapped using GPS-PLGR units. The most recent survey was completed from May 30th to June 15th of 2001. Observers walked along transect lines 10 meters apart. Flagging located dead and live 'akoko individuals and data for each living plant was recorded including height, basal diameter, age class, reproductive status and vigor. 129 individuals were found in about 32 locations. 11 were adults over 24"" and 118 were juveniles. Twenty of the 129 were flowering, and immature fruit were spotted on a few, but no propagules were collected. On a partial walk-through of the area on November 21st, 2001, we observed many live-tagged plants which were dead, but we were able to tag about a dozen new plants. The USFWS worker reported that in mid-December, thanks to substantial winter rains, about 50 new plants were tagged, bringing the population estimate up to about 200.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    Endemic to the Ewa Plains at the southwestern tip of Oahu, and the northwestern coast of Molokai. There are 7 current occurrences. All of the Oahu occurrences are threatened by habitat destruction and modification stemming from the urbanization of the Ewa Plains. The Molokai occurrences are threatened by deer, cattle, and off-road vehicles. All the occurrences are threatened by alien plant competition and fire.

    David Orr
    • 01/01/2010

    Construction of a proposed deep-draft harbor. Residential & industrial development. Drier weather. Proposed ""clean-up"", detoxification of area, meaning removal of topsoil because of lead contamination before the Navy can turn it over

    David Orr
    • 01/01/2010

    There are currently about 200 plants spread over 150 acres, the site of the Barber's Point Naval facility's Northern Trap and Skeet range. The USFWS is monitoring the plants, which are apparently declining in numbers.

    David Orr
    • 01/01/2010

    A 1999 survey of two 20-acre parcels of its remaining range found 11 adults, 11 juveniles and 6 seedlings. From this a population estimate of 330 individuals was extrapolated. ""Data tables and maps showing locations are provided in the Draft EE/CA Addendum No. 2 Former Trap and Skeet Ranges, Former Naval Air Station Barber's Point, Oahu, Hawaii (Earth Tech 1999) A 2000 survey by Art Whistler and USFWS biologists covered the remaining 100 acres over two days in February of that year. A total of 131 dead and living 'akoko individuals were counted. 94 seedlings and juveniles were recorded along with 37 dead plants. These were hand-mapped using GPS-PLGR units. The most recent survey was completed from May 30th to June 15th of 2001. Observers walked along transect lines 10 meters apart. Flagging located dead and live 'akoko individuals and data for each living plant was recorded including height, basal diameter, age class, reproductive status and vigor. 129 individuals were found in about 32 locations. 11 were adults over 24"" and 118 were juveniles. Twenty of the 129 were flowering, and immature fruit were spotted on a few, but no propagules were collected. On a partial walk-through of the area on November 21st, 2001, we observed many live-tagged plants which were dead, but we were able to tag about a dozen new plants. The USFWS worker reported that in mid-December, thanks to substantial winter rains, about 50 new plants were tagged, bringing the population estimate up to about 200.

    David Orr
    • 01/01/2010

    David Orr at Waimea Arboretum has asked the University's Botany Department to compare the DNA of this variety to the var. skottsbergii (into which var. kalaeloana has been lumped). If it does prove to be a distinct variety, it would receive federal protection.

    David Orr
    • 01/01/2010

    Full sun, dry, coral.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Euphorbia skottsbergii var. skottsbergii
    Authority Sherff
    Family Euphorbiaceae
    CPC Number 1914
    ITIS 845656
    USDA CHSKS
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Ewa Plains akoko
    Associated Scientific Names Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. kalaeloana | Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. audens | Euphorbia skottsbergii var. kalaeloana
    Distribution Found only on the Island of Oahu.
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Hawaii S2
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    This shot shows the tree on the grounds of Waimea Arboretum in 1989. This tree is now dead. Photo Credit: Waimea

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