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'Akoko occurs all over the place from the sand to the summits. 'Akoko can be confused with many other plants. 'Akoko has these nodes where the leaves come out. There is a milky white sap if you pull the leaves. There are many species of 'Akoko and they do have different features.
Background Information
'Akoko is in the spurge family. In Hawaii there are 15 endemic species and 7 introduced species. During Ancient Hawaii, the sap was used to paint canoes and used to make medicine.
'Akoko
This species Euphorbia celastroides is the most variable out of all the 'akoko plants. It usually grows as a shrub and ground cover. It is found on all the main Hawaiian Islands.
'Akoko
This 'Akoko is also celastroides species but there is a variation in this particular species. The variation is called kaenana. As the name implies, it occurs at Kaena Point on Oahu. It is listed on the federally endangered species list. Estimation have it at only 500 left in the wild. These leaves appear longer than the normal celastroides species.
'Akoko
This 'akoko is called Euphorbia skottsbergii. This one also has a variation called kalaeloana. The common name for this plant is called the Ewa Beach 'Akoko known to be occurring in the Ewa Plain. This one too is on the federally listed of endangered species. Because of urban development, this plant was near extinction. Restoration efforts have preserve this plant, however recent observations show that it is not doing well in its natural habitat (2017).
'Akoko
This species is called Euphorbia multiformis. I've only seen this species in the Waianae Mountain range so far (2018).
'Akoko
This species is called Euphorbia degeneri. It occurs on the sand and near the shoreline. Although not endangered, it is not that common on Oahu and only occurs on a few beaches. It grows near a few native plants such as naupaka and hinahina. The nodes on this species of 'akoko is small and it is difficult to identify it as 'akoko.
In between a patch of naupaka
Some leaves were red
'Akoko
This species of 'Akoko is like a tree. I didn't see it in the wild, but rather at a Botanical Garden. The scientific name is euphorbia haeleeleana. It is federally listed as endangered with about 600 left in the wild. It occurs on Kauai and Oahu, but not too many populations left.
Sources
- Flowering Plants of Hawaii, 602-617
- Hawaiian Plant Life, 98-101
- IUCN Red List
- UH Botany
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