Euphorbia celastroides

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Euphorbia celastroides
Chamaesyce celastroides (inflorescence)
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily: Euphorbioideae
Tribe: Euphorbieae
Subtribe: Euphorbiinae
Genus: Euphorbia
Subgenus: Chamaesyce
Species: E. celastroides
Binomial name
Euphorbia celastroides
Boiss.
Synonyms

Chamaesyce celastroides

Euphorbia celastroides, previously also known as Chamaesyce celastroides, named 'akoko by the Hawaiians, is a species of spurge closely related to the poinsettia.[1] This species develops into a round-shape shrub. This species is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Description

E. celastroides grows as a medium-sized shrub or small tree reaching 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height.[2] To grow properly, this species requires temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F) and light shade.[3] This plant develops in a fashion similar to a shrub. In the summer, it assumes a red-violet colouring. It does not lose its leaves in the winter, due to the warm climate of its range. Female flowers have a three-part pistil over a three-part ovary, usually producing three (or sometimes more) seeds.[3] This species is tolerant of heat and drought. They are susceptible to fungal diseases. Its cyathia may be located in short or open-branched cymes, or remain ungrouped in leaf axils. The leaves are distichous (grow in two vertical rows) and may have a glaucous coating. This plant produces a green or brown, rounded fruit 2 to 4 mm long, containing grey-brown seeds 0.5 to 2.5 mm long.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Most varieties of this species can only be found in the Hawaiian Islands.[4][5] E. celastroides is tolerant of drought and grows in dry areas, inland as well coastal.[6] This species is endemic to the polihale and kanaio regions of Kauai and Maui.[7]

Conservation

E. celastroides has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN.[8] However, due to its endemic nature, it is very vulnerable to human threats. Two examples of such threats are four-wheeled vehicles (which crush the plant) and introduced species (which compete for resources).[7]

Varieties

This plant has many varieties. These varieties include:[9]

  • Var. amplectens
  • Var. halawana
  • Var. hanapepensis
  • Var. haupuana
  • Var. humbertii
  • Var. ingrata
  • Var. kaenana
  • Var. kohalana
  • Var. laehiensis
  • Var. laurifolia
  • Var. mauiensis
  • Var. nelsonii
  • Var. nematopoda
  • Var. niuensis
  • Var. pseudoniuensis
  • Var. saxicola
  • Var. typica
  • Var. waikoluensis

References

  1. ↑ Euphorbiaceae at hawaii.edu
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hawaiian flora at botany.si.edu
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 E. celastroides at ZipCodeZoo
  4. ↑ Wagner, W.; D. Herbst, S. Sohmer (1990). Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 1853. ISBN 0-8248-1152-6. 
  5. ↑ USDA.gov on Var.kaenana
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Andrew W. (1989). The fragile South Pacific: an ecological odyssey. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. p. 167. ISBN 0-292-72466-7. Retrieved 5 October 2009. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 CHAMAESYCE CELASTROIDES COASTAL DRY SHRUBLAND at hawaii.edu
  8. ↑ Chamaesyce celastroides at EOL.org
  9. ↑ Euphorbia on SageBud
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.