Euphorbia deppeana is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae[2] 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[3] in moist shrublands on Nuʻuanu Pali.[4] Like other native Hawaiian euphorbs it is called ʻakoko locally.
| Euphorbia deppeana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. deppeana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia deppeana | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Anisophyllum californicum Klotzsch & Garcke | |
This shrub is erect or sprawling in form. The stems may exceed a meter in length and contain milky sap.[4]
The plant has never been abundant as long as the area has been surveyed for flora.[3] It was not seen for many decades and by the 1980s it was feared extinct.[3] The single known population was rediscovered in 1986 and it contained fewer than 100 plants.[3] In 1994 it was added to the United States' endangered species list.[3] 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.[3]
The species is still considered endangered because there is only a single population and it is threatened by a number of processes.[3] Several invasive plant species have moved into the area and compete with the rare native for water, light, nutrients, and physical space.[3] 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).[1][3] Other threats to the species include fires and human interference with the plants.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c Sporck-Koehler, M. (2018). "Euphorbia deppeana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T44130A83799515. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44130A83799515.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Euphorbia deppeana Boiss". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i USFWS. Chamaesyce deppeana Five Year Review. August 2, 2007.
- ^ a b c Chamaesyce deppeana. Archived 2002-11-21 at the Wayback Machine The Nature Conservancy.
External links
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