Kauai Spurge (Euphorbia haeleeleana)
Description
“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: leaves, stem, flowers Euphorbia haeleeleana, the Kaua-i spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the croton family, Euphorbiaceae, that is endemic to the islands of Kaua-i and Oa-hu 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 --hi-a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), koa (Acacia koa), lama (Diospyros sandwicensis), kukui (Aleurites moluccanus), -a-ali-i (Dodonaea viscosa), wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis), hala pepe (Pleomele spp.), -ohe kukulu-e-o (Reynoldsia sandwicensis), and -ulu (Sapindus oahuensis). Kaua-i 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.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Malpighiales
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Family: Euphorbiaceae
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Genus: Euphorbia
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