Kingdom Plantae Family Euphorbiaceae Scientific name Euphorbia haeleeleana Rank Species | Order Malpighiales Genus Euphorbia Higher classification Spurges | |
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Similar Vascular plant, Miconia, Spurges, AEECL's sportive lemur, Euphorbia celastroides | ||
Euphorbia haeleeleana, the Kauaʻi spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the croton family, Euphorbiaceae, that is endemic to the islands of Kauaʻi and Oaʻhu in Hawaii. Like other Hawaiian spurges it is known as `akoko.
It inhabits dry, coastal mesic, and mixed mesic forests from 205–670 m (673–2,198 ft). Associated plants include ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), koa (Acacia koa), lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), kukui (Aleurites moluccanus), ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa), wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis), hala pepe (Pleomele spp.), ʻohe kukuluāeʻo (Reynoldsia sandwicensis), and āulu (Sapindus oahuensis). Kauaʻi Spurge is a small tree, reaching a height of 3–14 metres (9.8–45.9 ft).
It is threatened by habitat loss and disturbance. Feral pigs and goats damage the habitat and non-native plant species take hold there and compete for resources.