Euphorbia deppeana: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Species
Euphorbia deppeana
Scientific Name
Euphorbia deppeana

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Euphorbia deppeana

Euphorbia deppeana is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae known by the common names Deppe's broomspurge and Oahu sandmat. It is endemic to Oʻahu, Hawaii, where it is known from only one population in moist shrublands on Nuʻuanu Pali. Like other native Hawaiian euphorbs it is called ʻakoko locally.

This shrub is erect or sprawling in form. The stems may exceed a meter in length and contain milky sap.

The plant has never been abundant as long as the area has been surveyed for flora. It was not seen for many decades and by the 1980s it was feared extinct. The single known population was rediscovered in 1986 and it contained fewer than 100 plants. In 1994 it was added to the United States' endangered species list. By 2007 the population was estimated to have exceeded 100 plants, but they are hard to count because they grow on a sheer rock cliff in the middle of a tourist area.

The species is still considered endangered because there is only a single population and it is threatened by a number of processes. Several invasive plant species have moved into the area and compete with the rare native for water, light, nutrients, and physical space. The most important non-native plants in the area include ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia), Hilo grass (Paspalum conjugatum), Christmasberry (Schinus terebinthifolius), and the common guava (Psidium guajava). Other threats to the species include fires and human interference with the plants.

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Euphorbia deppeana in languages:

English
Deppe's broomspurge
English
Oahu sandmat

Parent Taxon

Sibling Taxa

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